Hurricanes form when warm ocean water and favorable atmospheric conditions combine to create a powerful, rotating storm system. The core factors are: warm sea surface temperatures, sufficient humidity, low vertical wind shear, and a pre-existing disturbance that can organize convection into a cyclone. When these ingredients come together, heat from the ocean vents a rising column of moist air, which condenses into towering thunderstorms. As air rises and cools, latent heat is released, intensifying the storm. The rotation of the Earth (Coriolis effect) causes the system to spin, and with organized deep convection and a closed low-pressure center, the system can intensify into a tropical cyclone and, once winds reach 74 mph (119 km/h), a hurricane. Key components

• Warm ocean water: typically at least 26.5°C (80°F) across a broad area to fuel the storm.
• Humidity and convection: abundant moisture in the mid-troposphere supports strong thunderstorm development.
• Low wind shear: winds changing little with height allow the storm’s structure to remain intact.
• Coriolis force: provides the spin; thus hurricanes don’t form near the equator (usually need to be a bit away from the equator).
• Pre-existing disturbance: such as a tropical wave, monsoonal trough, or other low-pressure system, acts as a seed for organization.

Lifecycle overview

• Disturbance: a tropical wave or broad area of rain and thunder.
• Disturbance organization: thunderstorms consolidate, a low-pressure center forms, and a rotating circulation begins.
• Tropical depression: winds below 39 mph (63 km/h).
• Tropical storm: winds 39–73 mph (63–117 km/h); a name is assigned.
• Hurricane: sustained winds reach 74 mph (119 km/h) or higher; the structure features an eye and eyewall updrafts.

Notes

• Even with favorable conditions, not every disturbance becomes a hurricane; factors such as dry air intrusion, cooler waters, or upper-atmosphere dynamics can inhibit development.
• Once over land or cooler waters, Hurricanes typically weaken as their energy source (warm ocean water) is removed.

If you’d like, I can summarize this with bullet points for quick study, or provide a concise infographic-style checklist you can use for quick reference.