When they reach land, hurricanes lose much of their energy, so they can't travel very far inland. How Hurricanes Form Thunderstorms, warm ocean water and light wind are needed for a hurricane to form (A). A hurricane might last a … People call these storms by other names, such as typhoons or cyclones, depending on where they occur. Whatever they are called, tropical cyclones all form the same way.This website, presented by NASA’s Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission, provides students and educators with resources to learn about Earth’s Hurricanes for Dummies! The warm, moist air above the ocean surface rises, causing air from surrounding areas to be “sucked” in. In the Atlantic Ocean, hurricane season peaks during the late summer months when tropical waters are the warmest. Once formed, a hurricane consists of huge rotating rain bands with a center of clear skies called the eye which is surrounded by the fast winds of the eyewall (B). At its most dangerous, a hurricane's wind speed can exceed 157 mph. 9. Why do hurricanes strike Florida? From But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids. Also, the wind must be blowing in the same direction and at the same speed to force air upward from the ocean surface. The ocean waters must be warm enough (80 degrees F) at the surface to put enough heat and moisture into the atmosphere to provide the energy a hurricane needs. They start when warm water, moist air, and strong winds collide and create a rotating bundle of thunderstorms and clouds. Hurricanes only form over really warm ocean water of 80°F or warmer. Hurricanes need warm ocean water and moist air above the ocean to form. It’s worth emphasizing that even tropical cyclones that aren’t hurricanes can still do a great deal of damage by bringing torrential rain, dangerous surf, beach erosion, high winds, and flooding. Hurricanes affect all life forms in the impact zone, some more than others; Habitat loss may permanently eliminate a species from the area+; Nature is resilient and typically rebounds quickly, but not always; Thankfully, the 2017 hurricane season is over. Hurricanes form mostly from June through November (hurricane season). Hurricanes form from disturbances in the atmosphere over warm, tropical ocean water. They die down when they move over land or out of the tropics and into cooler latitudes. Winds flow outward above the storm allowing the air below to rise. Hurricanes are powerful storms that form over oceans and get their energy from the warm ocean waters. Why do hurricanes have names? Hurricanes Need Heat and Water to Form. In the last couple of weeks, two big hurricanes have hit parts of the United States and Caribbean islands. Hurricanes this year alone have taken an extreme toll on human life and property. This “new” air then becomes warm and moist, and rises, too, beginning a continuous cycle that forms clouds. How do hurricanes form? Hurricanes Can Reach Speeds of Over 157 mph. The birth of a hurricane requires at least four conditions: 1. Hurricanes begin over tropical and subtropical ocean water. Hurricane seasons are only when the water is warm, and there is a very specific reason for this. The warm air is then converted into energy that powers the hurricanes’ circular winds. In this episode we answer questions from kids who have been hearing the news and wondering: How do hurricanes form? These storms are called hurricanes in the Atlantic and typhoons or tropical cyclones in other areas of the world. Hurricanes are the most awesome, violent storms on Earth. Then a hurricane—a swirling mass of wind, rain, thunder, and chaos—will intrigue you. Hurricanes form from a cluster of thunderstorms that suck up the warm, moist air and move it high into Earth’s atmosphere. 8. 2. The atmosphere (the air) must cool off very quickly the higher you go. Hurricanes form over warm ocean waters near the equator.