Rare January hurricane looms closer to Azores

A rare January hurricane in the Atlantic is closing in on the Azores, with authorities in the Portuguese islands warning of waves up to 60ft high, wind gusts up to 100mph and torrential rain.

Alex is the first hurricane to form in the month of January since 1938. Its maximum sustained winds decreased to near 75mph but the US National Hurricane Centre in Miami said it expected little change in strength over the coming days.