How Hurricanes Form? Why Hurricanes Spin AntiClockwise in North and Clockwise in Southern Hemisphere

Hurricanes, cyclones and typhoons are formed due to violent storms that originate over oceans and seas and move towards land, potentially causing extensive damage to both life and property. But there is a very interesting thing related to hurricanes - they spin counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere but clockwise in the southern hemisphere. Why does that happen?

You may already know that hurricanes, cyclones and typhoons are different names for the same natural phenomenon—a tropical cyclone. In essence, they’re all very violent storms that originate over oceans and seas and move towards land. They are caused by pre-existing weather disturbances, moist and warm air, warm tropical oceans and relatively light winds.

In the southern hemisphere, winds traveling towards the equator are diverted towards the east. Similarly, in the northern hemisphere, winds traveling towards the equator are diverted towards east, because earth rotates from west to east. This causes hurricanes to spin in different directions in both hemispheres.

In this video, we explain hurricanes, why and how they form and why they spin in different directions in different hemispheres.