How Do Hurricanes Form?
3. Latent Heat of Condensation
As the warm air rises, it will eventually meet with cooler air above. This air will be carrying a lot of water from the ocean surface and when this water cools, it will condense and form storm clouds. This action heats the surrounding air due to what is known as the latent heat of condensation.
With the surrounding air warming up, this air will start to rise until it reaches cool air. This cool air will cause water to condense, and this cycle will continue, continually drawing in more warm air from below. This exchange of heat creates patterns of wind that swirl around the center of the storm.
