How do hurricanes and typhoons get their energy from warm oceans?

Hurricanes and typhoons are fueled by heat and moisture from warm ocean surfaces. When seawater is warm enough, lots of water evaporates into the air; as that moisture rises and condenses in thunderstorms, latent heat is released and helps the storm grow. The storm also needs low vertical wind shear and enough Coriolis force, which is why these systems form away from the equator. The strongest storms can rapidly intensify when they pass over very warm water and favorable atmospheric conditions.