Aloft, after latent heat of condensation has been release, there is a much larger temperature gradient between the center of the hurricane and the ambient air. Tropical disturbances and depressions are steered by trade winds. Hurricanes are guided mainly by upper-level winds. Hurricanes contain a tremendous amount of energy. Most of this energy results from the conversion of latent heat to sensible heat.
Hurricanes also possess a significant amount of kinetic energy in the form of winds.
In general, El Nino events are associated with decreased hurricane frequency in the North Atlantic basin, but an increased frequency in the eastern Pacific basin.