The effect of prolonged and isolated magnetic storms over the low- and equatorial-latitude F2 layers has been studied by correlating the hpF2 variation with the 3-hour Kp indices. The results show that during severe magnetic storms the F2 layers at these latitudes are lifted upward during midnight hours and pushed downward during day hours. The result is interpreted in terms of E¿b drift, the electric vector being eastward during nighttime and westward during daytime. The isolated magnetic storms, however, have no effect on these layers.