This page displays a labelled diagram that shows how hurricanes form. An optional animation of the diagram requires shockwave. This graph shows the frequency of storm for each month during the hurricane season. Tropical cyclones form in global 'basins' Every year about 100 tropical cyclones form within seven regions around the world. How Do Hurricanes Form One of the most important ways of understanding hurricanes is understanding how they form.
Hurricanes can only form over really warm ocean water.
Like all tropical cyclones, a hurricane needs the warm water of the tropics, which feeds the storm with energy. This page included a labelled diagram of a hurricane and explanation of each of the labels. Hurricanes form and intensify over oceanic regions. This page was last updated on August 2000.