Maps are very important in tracking hurricanes. The maps have numbered lines forming a grid. The grid helps meteorologists communicate the exact position of the hurricane.

The lines going across the map are called latitude lines. The equator is a line of latitude. All lines of latitude are numbered starting at the equator, which is marked 0°. As you move north of the equator, the latitude lines have larger numbers. On this map, the tip of Florida is at 25° North, while the northern portion of Florida is at 30° North.