Hurricanes develop in the tropics over areas with very warm, moist air. This warm, moist air provides the energy needed for a hurricane to form and strengthen. The warm air near the surface of the ocean rises, creating an area of low pressure. As more warm air moves in to replace the rising air, it also picks up moisture from the warm ocean surface.
The moisture in the air then condenses and forms clouds and thunderstorms. As this process continues and more warm, moist air is drawn into the system, the storm can intensify and develop into a hurricane. The warm water of the ocean serves as the fuel for the hurricane, providing the energy it needs to grow in size and strength.
In contrast, hurricanes do not develop over areas with dry, hot air, cool, moist air, or cool, dry air because these conditions do not provide the necessary ingredients for hurricane formation. Warm, moist air is essential for the formation and sustenance of hurricanes due to its role in fueling the storm through the process of evaporation, condensation, and cloud formation.
