Where are tropical storms formed?

• Tropical storms are huge storms called hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones in different parts of the world. Most from 5-15° N&S of the Equator, in summer and autumn, where:

  • Ocean temperatures are highest (above 27°C)
  • The spinning (coriolis) effect of the Earth's rotation is very high
  • Insense heat and humidity make the air unstable, causing it to rise rapidly
• Global atmospheric circulation affects tropical storms in 2 ways:

  • Unstable rising air in the equatorial regions (where the 2 Hadley cells converge) encourages air to rise, condense and form storm clouds
  • Winds blow from high-pressure belts (sub-tropical) to low (equatorial). These trade winds are responsible for the predominantly east-west storm paths