Home / Weather News /

Hurricane Season: How do Tropical Storms form?

04:32 PM
May 15, 2025

Hurricane Season
How do Tropical Storms form?

tropical storm

‘Tis the season! That’s hurricane season, of course. For residents along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts, the development of a tropical cyclone is something they watch closely with angst.

Tropical storms develop into hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones, depending on your location, but how do they initially form?

These types of storms require a lot of heat and usually form close to the equator, where sea temperatures are at least 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Warm waters then heat the air above them, causing the air to rise rapidly. This is when it is often called a tropical wave.

As the air rises, it condenses into cumulonimbus clouds and, if conditions are just right, the clouds start to spin, creating an intense area of low pressure. This area will suck in the surrounding air causing very strong winds. Once the winds reach 39 miles per hour, a tropical storm is born.

As the winds continue to intensify, fed by the warm waters underneath, the tropical storm can intensify into a hurricane, cyclone, or typhoon. Once the storm moves over land, however, it starts to lose energy and eventually fades away.

How do hurricanes form?read more

Track what's going on in the tropics on our interactive WeatherRadar. Stay updated on our tropical forecasts in our Daily Briefing, published every weekday at 5 a.m. ET.

Irene Sans
More on the topic
Happy Earth Day
Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Employ renewable energy

Earth Day 2025 - Our Power, Our Planet
Derecho iowa
Sunday, June 22, 2025

Stay severe weather-aware

What are derechos?
Saturday, April 26, 2025

Off the coast of Sardinia

Waterspout seen from cruise ship
All weather news
This might also interest you
Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Chantal's remnants

Tropical waterspout in North Carolina
Monday, July 7, 2025

Daily briefing

East Coast's front, flash flood risk continues for Texas
Sunday, July 6, 2025

Tropical Storm Chantal

Carolina's heavy rains, flood risk
All articles
Weather & Radar

www.weatherandradar.com

instagramfacebookthreadsContact uslinkList
Privacy policy | Legal info | Accessibility statement