Only tropical cyclones, which have warm air at their center, become the powerful storms that are called hurricanes. Hurricanes form over tropical waters (between 8 and 20 degrees latitude) in areas of high humidity, light winds, and warm sea surface temperatures [typically 26.5 degrees Celsius (80 Fahrenheit) or greater].
Hurricanes need a lot of heat to form, which is why they usually occur over tropical seas (at least 26°C). The sun is close to the equator, providing energy to heat the ocean. The warm ocean heats the air above it causing it to rise rapidly., and more items.
You could be asking “Do hurricane form close or far from the equator?”
The most frequent answer is, the textbooks say that cyclones such as hurricanes (or typhoons as they’re called in the western Pacific) don’t form within 300 kilometers (about 186 miles) of the equator. Typhoon Vamei proved to be an exception to the rule.
No known hurricane has ever crossed the equator. Hurricanes require the Coriolis force to develop and generally form at least 5° away from the equator since the Coriolis force is zero there. Why is it very unlikely that a hurricane could cross the equator ?
This of course begs the inquiry “Why do Hurricanes spin in the northern hemisphere?”
It happens because the air starts moving toward the center of the hurricane where a low-pressure region is formed. While this phenomena is true for the Northern Hemisphere, it is exactly the opposite that happens in the Southern Hemisphere where a high-pressure region is formed at the center and the spin is clockwise.
Even if these conditions are in place, a tropical cyclone is not likely to form if it is not at least 300 or so miles from the equator. This is because of the lack of the Coriolis force. What is that? It is an apparent force caused by the rotation of the Earth.
Where do hurricanes not form?
Why do hurricanes not form near the poles ? Can hurricanes form at the equator? Why do hurricanes move towards the poles? Where do hurricanes form near the equator? Why are there no hurricanes near the equator? Can a hurricane form without the spin of the Earth? Why do hurricanes not form at the Poles?, and more items.
The other reason hurricanes almost never hit California, Oregon, or Washington is that cyclones feed on warm sea water—preferably over 80 degrees. But the ocean temperature in the northern Pacific is usually under 75. In fact, there’s no record of a tropical hurricane ever hitting the West Coast.
A hurricane is a tropical storm. …The word hurricane comes from the word Huracan. …The eye is the centre of a hurricane. …The eye wall is around the eye. …The rainbands are the outer part of the hurricane. …Hurricanes can be very dangerous.
What conditions are necessary for hurricane formation?
A pre-existing weather disturbance : A hurricane often starts out as a tropical wave. Warm water: Water at least 26.5 degrees Celsius over a depth of 50 meters powers the storm. Thunderstorm activity: Thunderstorms turn ocean heat into hurricane fuel.
One inquiry we ran across in our research was “What are the weather conditions during a hurricane?”.
The recipe for a hurricane is a combination of warm, humid wind over tropical waters. The temperature of tropical waters must be at least 80 degrees F for up to 165 feet below the ocean’s surface.
Why does it often rain near the equator?
The warm air can hold large amounts of water that evaporate from the equatorial oceans and land. As the warm air rises it cools, which reduces some of its ability to hold water. Areas near the equator receive large amounts of rain. Cool water over the equator cannot sink because hot air is rising below the cool air.
Why is it usually more humid near the equator?
Heat is needed to evaporate water, changing it into vapor in the air. Because warm air can hold more moisture than cool air, locations with warm climates, such as those near the equator, generally have higher humidity than locations with cooler climates, such as those near the poles.