ELI5: Why are hurricanes rare in Hawaii?

Hurricanes are rare in Hawaii because the islands are often protected by cooler water, strong winds that tear storms apart, and big mountains that help weaken them.

• Think of a hurricane like a spinning toy that needs warm water to keep going.
• Near Hawaii, the ocean is often too cool for hurricanes to stay strong, so they start to lose energy.
• The air above Hawaii can also have wind shear, which means winds blow in different directions at different heights. That can pull a storm apart, like shaking a stack of blocks until it falls over.
• Hawaii’s tall volcanoes and mountains act like giant speed bumps for storms, making it harder for them to stay organized when they get close.
• The islands are also small and surrounded by a lot of ocean, so many storms pass far away or turn before reaching land.

• Hurricanes can still happen in Hawaii, just not often.
• Some years, especially during El Niño, the ocean gets warmer and storms may have a better chance of getting close.