q Hurricanes form only over deep (several
tens of meters) water layers with surface temperatures in
excess of 27 oC.
q Poleward of about 25o, water temperatures
are usually below this threshold.
q Hurricanes are most frequent in late
summer and early autumn during high SST
times.
Conditions Necessary for Hurricane Formation
qCoriolis
force is an important contributor, and as such,
hurricanes do not form equatorward of 5o.
q Need an unstable atmosphere: available in the
western tropical ocean bur not in the
eastern parts of the ocean.
qStrong vertical shear must be absent for hurricane formation.