Hurricanes rarely form or move within 5 degrees of the equator, because

Hurricanes rarely form within 5 degrees of the equator primarily because the Coriolis effect is weakest in this region. The Coriolis force is zero at the equator and increases with latitude [3]. For a tropical cyclone to develop, a strong Coriolis force is necessary to deflect inward-flowing winds and create the essential cyclonic vortex or spiraling motion [4]. Near the equator, the lack of this force means that air flows directly toward the center of low-pressure areas, filling them up rather than allowing them to intensify into a rotating storm system [5]. While other conditions like high sea surface temperatures and low pressure are present at the equator, the absence of sufficient rotational force prevents the organization of these disturbances into mature hurricanes [6]. Consequently, most tropical cyclones originate between 5° and 30° latitude where the Coriolis effect is significant enough to sustain rotation [4].

Sources

1. [2] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 26: Tropical Cyclones > Coriolis Force > p. 356
2. [3] FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 9: Atmospheric Circulation and Weather Systems > Coriolis Force > p. 79
3. [1] INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 6: Natural Hazards and Disasters > Tropical Cyclone > p. 60
4. [4] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 23: Pressure Systems and Wind System > Why Tropical Cyclones Do Not Form At The Equator? > p. 310
5. [5] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 23: Pressure Systems and Wind System > Why Tropical Cyclones Do Not Form At The Equator? > p. 309
6. [6] https://www.hko.gov.hk/en/education/tropical-cyclone/intensity/00150-why-do-tropical-cyclones-always-form-more-than-5-degrees-of-latitude-away-from-the-equator.html