Hurricane Alex

Hurricane Alex was an early-developing hurricane over the Atlantic Ocean. It formed in the month of January in 2016, the only tropical cyclone ever recorded to do so. At its peak, it was a Category 5 Hurricane, with torrential thunderstorms and winds, most likely costing millions in damage on the East Coast of the United States, as well as the Southern Carribean. The death toll due to Alex is unknown.

Meteorological History
Not much has been revealed about Hurricane Alex's history before it became a Category 3 hurricane.

As a Category 3, Alex, traveling fast in a south-southwest direction, caused major damage to the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and the northern part of South America. The eye did not make landfall on South America, however, as it had veered off course and began traveling north from its current position. It strenghtened into a Category 4, with winds topping at 120 knots.

Alex made landfall on Cuba in the afternoon hours of January 17, 2016 as a Category 4, and continued its northern trek. It reached Florida, but did not make landfall, in the late evening/early morning. It then made it to Georgia and South Carolina, again not making landfall, on January 18 as a deadly Category 5, winds reaching 135 knots and up.

After reaching South Carolina, it is unknown what became of Alex. It is likely that it dissipated before it reached the Northeast, or was still a Tropical Storm or Category 1 by the time it made it there.

Ace Combat: Assault Horizon
Hurricane Alex had a major role in the final stages of Ace Combat: Assault Horizon.

The Search for NRF
Two aircraft carriers from the United States Navy were searching in the Southern Carribbean for the hiding spot of Markov, the NRF forces, and final Trinity missile. Since Alex was active in the region, and strengthening from Category 3 to Category 4, it is likely that the aircraft carriers had to dock in a Cuban port, ending their search until Alex left the region in the morning of January 18, when it had left for Florida. But the NRF was already gone.

Home Front
Colonel William Bishop and the 108th Task Force, which included the Warwolf, Tiger, Coyote, Shooter, and Nomad Squadrons, were all in the air over the Florida skies after Alex had left, protecting Miami from the NRF planes. Alex's clouds were quite visible even from here, as noted by Warwolf 2: "Bitch of a storm out there. Look at those CBs." Markov appeared with the final Trinity cruise missile, and shot Warwolf 2 down, who still managed to bail out thanks to Bishop, who got a missile hit on Markov and damaged the Trinity missile. Markov fled the battle zone and flew towards Washington, D.C. to set off Trinity there. Warwolf Squadron turned over Warwolf 2 to Nomad Squadron, refueled in mid-air, and followed Markov straight into Hurricane Alex.

Hurricane
Alex attained Category 5 status by the time Markov - joined by his friend Sergei Illich - and Warwolf Squadron caught up to him. Illich stayed behind in the Eye and Eye Wall of Alex, to keep Warwolf at bay so Markov could keep going to Washington, D.C. Warwolf Squadron noticed considerable changes in their flying capabilities, as their planes were being thrown around the sky due to Alex's winds, and visibility was very tough thanks to the rain. They still managed to shoot down Illich, and kept on going north to protect Washington. From there on, Alex was no longer a threat.