January hurricane forms in Atlantic for first time since 1938

Hurricane Alex develops near Azores in water barely warm enough for any storm to form, say US researchers

A hurricane has formed far out in the Atlantic Ocean, the first time such an event has happened in January since 1938, US officials said.

Hurricane Alex's maximum sustained winds were near 85mph (140kmh) and residents of Portugal's mid-Atlantic Azores islands were warned to expect waves up to 60ft (18 metres) high and wind gusts up to 100mph.