It’s even less common when such a storm strengthens into a hurricane, which often thrive most over warm waters.
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As of 4 p.m. ET on Thursday, Hurricane Alex had sustained winds of 85 miles per hour and was located 350 miles south of the Central Azores Islands, which is a Portuguese territory.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center says Alex will move near or over parts of the Azores on Friday. The storm could lead to up to seven inches of rain in isolated areas of the Azores and three to five inches throughout.
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November, according to CNN. According to CNN, this is the first time in four decades that a storm of considerable size formed in January was given a name. Residents have been told to expect waves up to 18m (60ft) high and wind gusts up to 160km/h. Alex is also, as of 10 AM Thursday, the second strongest hurricane ever during the month of January.
It is the fourth known storm to arrive in the first month of the year since forecasters began keeping track in 1851.
A hurricane warning has been issued for the Azores.
Hurricane force winds extend 25 miles from its centre, with tropical storm force winds 150 miles from its centre.
Sometimes subtropical storms – which have characteristics of both tropical and non-tropical storms – can evolve and become fully tropical over their lifespans, so scientists are keeping an eye on Alex. Tropical storm warnings are in place for Santa Maria and Sao Miguel, which contains the autonomous region’s capital and largest city, Ponta Delgada. Hurricane conditions are expected to spread over the central Azores by early Friday.
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Authorities have warned of the risk of landslides, flash-flooding and “significant coastal flooding”. The archipelago has a population of around 250,000. It was expected to turn to the north over the next day or two and was not expected to approach North America, NHC said.
