Why do hurricanes happen

Hurricanes are the result of a number of environmental factors, primarily both wind and water currents in hot climates mixing to generate extreme winds and rotational cycles that result in the iconic cyclone appearance hurricanes have from space. As hurricanes primarily require hot water temperatures to form they are generally only found in more tropical areas such as the Caribbean Sea and are most common during the hottest months of summer near the equator, often referred to as “hurricane season”.

The primary factor behind a hurricane’s formation is oceanic temperatures rising to a degree of approximately 80 degrees Fahrenheit. When this occurs excess water is evaporated into their air and rises towards the upper atmosphere, generating a strong updraft and thus generating light winds in the cloud layer above the formation zone. As this strong updraft and light wind generation then meets with various air convergence zones (or locations where air flows tend to come together) the air begins to develop a low pressure system, forcing clouds and wind currents to begin circling. As this grows a cyclone will form and, if given enough space, a hurricane will develop.

Oceanic currents also play an important role in determining why hurricanes form. As currents shift from one location to another, bringing with them both cold and hot water, oceanic temperatures as a whole are directly affected. It is these currents of warm water that allow places such as Europe to enjoy its temperate climates, yet at the same time when allowed to converge into areas with high numbers of air convergence zones as well (such as the Caribbean Sea) this assists with hurricane generation substantially.

Hurricanes can only form in areas of warm water and as such will be unable to continue formation over cooler zones. Strong winds in the upper atmosphere will also work to stop hurricanes, often preventing them from developing all together and many times dispersing them before they ever reach any inhabited areas. Often if a hurricane system can not generate a strong enough low-pressure zone through air convergence a simple thunderstorm with strong winds will develop and disperse relatively quickly (as seen along many Pacific Ocean coastlines).