Location: Impacted the Azores, an archipelago in the North Atlantic.
Details: Alex was the first Atlantic hurricane to form in January since 1938. It reached hurricane status and made landfall in the Azores, causing minor damage.
Hurricane Lili (1984)
Date: Formed in December 1984.
Location: Impacted the Azores.
Details: Lili formed in late December and reached hurricane strength. Although it did not cause significant damage, it was unusual due to its timing so late in the year.
Hurricane Alice (1954)
Date: Formed in late December 1954 and continued into January 1955.
Location: Impacted the northern Leeward Islands.
Details: Alice is unique because it formed on December 30, 1954, and continued into the new year, making it a rare crossover hurricane between two calendar years. It caused some damage in the Caribbean.
Tropical Storm Alberto (2018)
Date: Formed in May 2018.
Location: Made landfall in the Florida Panhandle.
Details: While not a hurricane, Alberto was a significant early-season storm that formed in May and made landfall before the official start of the season. It caused flooding and damage across the southeastern United States.
These examples show that while the majority of hurricanes occur during the official season, the formation of tropical cyclones can happen at any time of the year if conditions are favorable, leading to occasional out-of-season storms.