List of tropical cyclones near the Equator

This is a list of all tropical cyclones that have existed between 3.0°N and 3.0°S, or within 180 nautical miles (210 mi; 330 km) of the equator. Despite the presence of sufficiently warm sea surface temperatures and generally low wind shear, tropical cyclogenesis is very rare in these latitudes, particularly outside of the northwestern Pacific Ocean. Outside of the northwestern Pacific, only four tropical cyclones have formed in this region; two in the northeastern Pacific, albeit both systems formed close to the boundary of the northwestern Pacific, Cyclone Agni, which formed in the north Indian Ocean, and Cyclone Fabien which formed in the south-west Indian Ocean. The lack of storm formations in close proximity to the equator is due to a weak Coriolis effect in the region. The Coriolis effect provides the dynamics required for the rotation of thunderstorms in developing tropical cyclones and without it, most tropical cyclones can't develop due to a lack of vorticity.[1][2] Overall, only twelve systems have formed in these latitudes since records began. The most recent of these systems was Cyclone Fabien in May of 2023.

Tropical Storm Vamei near the equator in December 2001