The hurricane was centered about 560km (350m) south of Faial Island in the central Azores and was moving north-northeast at about 35kph (22mph).
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Aside from this, Hurricane Alex is also one of two storms that have formed with unusual timing, considering that the Atlantic hurricane season typically begins on June 1 and runs through November 30. Alex is the first to have emerged in the Atlantic in January since 1938, according to USA meteorologists. The hurricane is expected to increase speed Friday and Saturday, possibly reaching land in Azores on Friday.
MIAMI (AP) – A rare January hurricane in the Atlantic is getting closer to the Azores early Friday.
“The resulting instability is likely the main factor contributing to the tropical transition and intensification of Alex”, the National Hurricane Center wrote in its 10 a.m. discussion. That storm formed in December 1954. “It is only the 2nd hurricane on record to form north of 30N (latitude) east of 30W (longitude)”. Even its position is freakish, as it’s making its way toward Portugal’s Azores islands.
Rainfall: Alex is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 3 to 5 inches over the Azores through Friday, with possible isolated maximum amounts of 7 inches.
Authorities have warned of the risk of landslides, flash-flooding and “significant coastal flooding”. Those winds are what later developed into tropical storm Alex. This marks the 4th known storm to form in January since 1851.
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In fact, several areas of the islands have already been placed under tropical storm warning. Residents on the islands have been told that they might experience waves up to 60 feet high and winds up to 160 kilometres an hour. Pic: National Hurricane Centre. Usually, the sea surface temperature has to reach 79 degrees Fahrenheit or higher for a hurricane to form.
