What conditions are necessary to create and sustain a hurricane?
The first ingredient in the hurricane recipe is sea surface temperature of at least 82 F. Another necessary ingredient is rotating winds over the ocean’s surface, precursors to tropical cyclone development. Air temperature and humidity are also important factors. Rainfall intensity is the final ingredient. Often times, Africa is the source of the “spark” that gets the fire going. Global winds carry hurricanes from one place to another. Bands of thunderstorms form, and the storm’s cloud tops rise higher into the atmosphere. If the winds at these high levels remain relatively light (little or no wind shear), the storm can remain intact and continue to strengthen.
