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Atlantic Hurricane Alex is extremely rare

Posted at 7:54 AM, Jan 15, 2016
and last updated 2016-01-15 13:44:11-05

Alex became a hurricane late Thursday morning, marking the first time a hurricane has formed in January in the Atlantic since 1938.

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.

Alex began as a sub-tropical storm, but it has since become a full-fledged tropical hurricane.

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Alex is currently in the far eastern Atlantic Ocean near the Azores islands, and it won't come near the United States.

Hurricane season begins on June 1 and lasts through the end of November, and having a hurricane form in January is extremely rare.

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