Final answer:
Hurricanes primarily form in August and September because ocean temperatures peak after the summer solstice, creating ideal conditions for hurricane formation, including warm waters, high humidity, and the Coriolis effect.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hurricanes form mostly in August and September because these months follow the summer solstice in late June, allowing the ocean waters to absorb more heat and surpass the critical temperature of 80 °F necessary for hurricane development.
This period has the optimal combination of warm water, moist air, and conducive atmospheric conditions. As these storms form over warm ocean waters, the heated air starts to rise rapidly, causing lower pressure below. This pressure difference triggers winds to converge into the low-pressure area, strengthening the storm system.
The rotation of the Earth, with the Coriolis effect, imparts the spinning motion necessary for hurricanes to develop. These hurricanes can be extremely dangerous due to their powerful winds, torrential rains, and potential to cause catastrophic flooding and destruction to coastal regions and infrastructures.