Hurricanes, typhoons and tropical cyclones anyone?

Question

Is it possible for any of the aforementioned storms to cross the equator?

Answer 1

I believe it is possible, and I've heard rumors of it happening, but when I looked into it the closest approach I've seen is about 1 degree from the equator. There is nothing in the Coriolis force that would steer storms away from the equator. Tropical cyclones do need the Coriolis force to form, so they don't form too close to the equator, but they could cross with their winds spinning the same direction by relying on cyclostrophic balance rather than geostrophic balance. That has almost certainly been observed for smaller eddies (such as whirlwinds or tornadoes) which depend on cyclostrophic balance.

Answer 2

Due to the apparent force (called Coriolis force) that is necessary for tropical cyclone formation (typhoon, hurricane, cyclone to name a few of the other terms for them) they can not form on the equator.

It is rare for one to form within 7 degrees either side of the equator. Those that form north of the equator always turn counterclockwise and those south of the equator always turn clockwise. Which ever side they form on, tropical cyclones nearly always move in a direction that is away from the equator.

Theoretically, it is possible that they can turn and cross the equator and if they did, they would continue to turn in the direction that they formed. There has never been a case of a tropical cyclone crossing the equator since records have began.

Answer 3

While tropical storms CAN move due south ( in the northern hemishpere) toward the equator, they rarely do, and will never cross it due to the pull and steering abilities of the Coriolis effect/Coriolis parameter.

Answer 4

No, the Coriolis Effect will steer them away.