However, in the Atlantic during El Nino years there is more wind shear which actually inhibits the formation of hurricanes, which makes this storm even rarer.
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The Azores Meteorological Service has issued a “red alert” warning for the islands of Faial, Pico, São Jorge, Graciosa, and Terceira which form the central island group.
Subtropical cyclones were officially recognized by the National Hurricane Center in 1972.
Hurricane Alex as observed by NASA’s MODIS satellite at 10:30am ET Thursday.
Alex’s maximum sustained wind as of Thursday was 85 miles per hour and isn’t expected to increase Friday, according to the hurricane center.
They have been threatened by hurricanes before but they usually lose their strength as they move into colder northern water.
A hurricane has formed far out in the Atlantic ocean, the first time this has happened in January since 1938, said United States officials.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami reports that a hurricane hasn’t disrupted the waters of the Atlantic since Alice in 1955, which formed in December 1954. The centre of the hurricane is expected to make landfall or move near the central Azores on Friday morning.
The hurricane season generally lasts up to November, with the peak hurricane months being September and October.
After monitoring a storm system for several days, the National Hurricane Center has determined that the storm system has become sub-tropical.
Tropical storm conditions are expected to begin in the Thursday night.
It was also expected to dump up to 7 inches of rain, raising the threat of flash flooding and land slides in the archipelago some 900 miles west of Portugal. Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves.
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The Atlantic Hurricane season generally occurs at the end of the summer.
