The hurricane season generally lasts up to November, with the peak hurricane months being September and October. The month of January normally does not see any hurricane developing in the Atlantic Ocean.
This year, January witnessed a hurricane named Alex. This is being hailed as the first hurricane in the Atlantic in January since 1955.
First a tropical storm was formed, which quickly intensified and developed an eye on Thursday. It now lies as a hurricane in the eastern Atlantic.
Alex was formed on Wednesday, making it one of the earliest tropical systems to form in the Atlantic Hurricane Basin. Presently, it is situated south of the Azores, precisely in latitude 34°N and longitude 28°W.
The Azores is a group of nine islands in the Atlantic. These islands, of volcanic origin, are spread across an area of 600 km.
The storm now has the potential of great damage and is carrying high-velocity winds. Alex is likely to bring damaging winds and the risk of flooding to the Azores Islands. It is not likely to threaten any other mainland region.
Main image credit - CIMSS
Featured image credit - NBC News
