answersLogoWhite

0

In the northern hemisphere, wind shear usually works so that wind direction turns counterclockwise with increasing altitude, so for example, at ground level the wind may be out of the west while higher up it may be out of the south. If the wind shear is strong enough it can impart a counterclockwise rotation on the updraft of a thunderstorm. This rotation will then be passed on to any tornado the storm produces.

User Avatar

Wiki User

12y ago

What else can I help you with?

Related Questions

Which directions do tornadoes spin?

Tornadoes nearly always spin counterclockwise if they are in the northern hemisphere and clockwise if they are in the southern hemisphere.


Do tornadoes spin counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere?

Yes, tornadoes typically spin counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere due to the rotation of the Earth creating a cyclonic motion in low-pressure systems. In the southern hemisphere, tornadoes spin clockwise due to the Coriolis effect.


Which way do cyclones and tornadoes blow in the northern hemisphere?

Cyclones spin counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere.


Does a tornado spin counterclockwise?

The vast majority of tornadoes in the northern hemisphere spin counterclockwise. Most tornadoes in the southern hemisphere spin clockwise.


Do tornados spin clockwise?

Most tornadoes in the northern hemisphere spin counter clockwise while most in the southern hemisphere spin clockwise.


Do tornadoes always spin clockwise?

No. Most tornadoes in the northern hemisphere spin counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere. Most southern hemisphere tornadoes spin clockwise. There are also anticyclonic tornadoes, which spin in the opposite direction than is normal for their hemispheres. Only about .1% to 1% of tornadoes are anticyclonic.


Do tornadoes spin clockwise or counterclockwise fact or fiction?

they go both ways. More than 99% of tornadoes spin counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern hemisphere. For less than 1% of tornadoes the opposite is true. These are called anticyclonic tornadoes.


Which way do tornadoes turn in the northern hemisphere clockwise or counterclockwise?

Most of them spin counterclockwise


Do tornadoes always spin in the same direction?

No, most tornadoes in the northern hemisphere spin counter clockwise, while most in the southern hemisphere spin clockwise. Additionally about 0.1% of tornadoes spin in the "wrong" direction for their hemisphere.


In which direction does a tornado spin in the US?

The vast majority of tornadoes in the northern hemisphere, including the U.S. spin counterclockwise. However on rare occasions clockwise tornadoes are observed.


Do tornadoes spin the same way as hurricanes?

Yes, at least for the vast majority of tornadoes. Both rotate cyclonically, that is, counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern. However, a small number of tornadoes (less than 1%) rotate the opposite direction from normal. These are called anticyclonic tornadoes.


What directions do tornadoes normally turn in?

Normally they turn counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern hemisphere. However, in very rare cases a tornado turns in the opposite direction from normal. These are called anticyclonic tornadoes.