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An extremely rare January hurricane is brewing above the Atlantic for the first time since 1938.
Hurricane Alex is forming in the middle of the ocean and could bring 18ft high waves and 100mph winds.
Officials have now issued a hurricane warning for Portugal's Azores islands, in the mid-Atlantic.
A red weather alert, the highest of four warnings indicating extreme risk, is in place for five of the nine islands.
The US National Hurricane Centre (NHC) in Miami said in a Facebook post Alex was the first hurricane to form in January since 1938.
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It added there has not been a hurricane during the month of January since 1955, when Alice formed in late December 1954 and carried over into the next month.
Alex was centered 275 miles south of Faial Island in the central Azores a few hours ago and was moving north-east at 22mph.
The weather system is expected to hit the archipelago today.
The Azores government has advised nurseries to stay closed and told residents to ensure drainage systems are not blocked.
The NHC added: "Tropical-storm-force winds are expected to begin over portions of the Azores during the next few hours.
"Hurricane conditions are expected to spread over the central Azores by early Friday.
"Alex is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 3 to 5 inches over the Azores through Friday, with possible isolated maximum amounts of 7 inches."
"These rains could produce life-threateningflash floods and mud slides," the NHC continued.
"Also, a dangerous storm surge is expected to produce significant coastal flooding near and to the east of the center of Alex, along with large and destructive waves near the coast."
The Azores have a population of around 250,000.
They have been threatened by hurricanes before but they usually lose their strength as they move into colder northern water.
