Rare January hurricane weakens to tropical storm

Previously categorised as a tropical storm, Alex was upgraded on Thursday afternoon as winds reached 80mph.

Early on Friday, the centre reported Alex was about 130 miles south of Terceira Island – one of nine Azores islands.

It was the first hurricane to form in the month of January since 1938. Azores regional airline SATA canceled morning flights.

It is the fourth known storm to arrive in the first month of the year since forecasters began keeping track in 1851.

A rare January hurricane in the Atlantic has weakened to a tropical storm after moving over the Azores.

Hurricanes usually form above warmer water in the June-November period. People were warned it was moving north at about 23mph. It should eventually turn north and pick up speed before going over the Azores on Friday morning, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The last time the Atlantic had a hurricane in January was when Hurricane Alice formed in late December 1954 and continued spinning into January 1955.

About 900 miles from Europe and 2,300 miles from the United States, the Azores are marked by rolling green hills and volcanic peaks.

“The intensity of the hurricane itself is not likely to diminish for now, but as it starts to open distance from the archipelago, the forecast is for gusts to diminish gradually in the Azores in the coming hours”, Moreira said. Tropical storm warnings are in place for Santa Maria and Sao Miguel, which contains the autonomous region’s capital and largest city, Ponta Delgada.

There’s no expectation Alex will directly strike the United States or Europe. As it heads north towards colder waters its intensity is likely to decline.