dg>>> The "gap" you’re referring to in the image — where no hurricane paths appear — is the narrow band surrounding the equator, particularly within 5 degrees north and south of it. This region lacks hurricanes due to the Coriolis effect being too weak near the equator to initiate cyclone rotation.
Major Cities Located in the Hurricane-Free Equatorial Gap: Here are notable cities within that equatorial band:
South America: - Quito, Ecuador
- Bogotá, Colombia (just outside the equator but still largely safe from hurricanes)
- Leticia, Colombia
- Manaus, Brazil
Africa: - Libreville, Gabon
- Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
- Kampala, Uganda
Southeast Asia & Oceania: - Singapore
- Jakarta, Indonesia
- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (just outside but still low-risk)
- Kinchasa, Papua New Guinea (not a large city but within the equatorial region)
Pacific Islands (Equator Region): - Tarawa, Kiribati
- Palikir, Federated States of Micronesia (close to equator)
- Ngerulmud, Palau
Why Hurricanes Don't Form or Cross the Equator: - Coriolis Force is essentially zero at the equator — needed to generate cyclone spin.
- Hurricanes rely on initial disturbances; the equator has fewer such wave patterns.
- Even if a storm forms slightly north/south of the equator, it veers away due to atmospheric steering, never crossing over.
So the "gap" shown in your image includes all these cities — some of which lie literally on the equator — making them essentially free from hurricane strikes. |
