Tornadoes and hurricanes are fundamentally different weather phenomena, with tornadoes being localized, short-lived events formed by strong updrafts in single thunderclouds, while hurricanes are large, sustained systems fueled by warm ocean water. Tornadoes cannot combine to form a hurricane, as they are thousands of times smaller and operate independently. Both tornadoes and hurricanes in the northern hemisphere typically rotate counter-clockwise, although rare instances of clockwise-spinning tornadoes can occur. The Coriolis effect influences larger weather systems like thunderstorms, which can spawn tornadoes, but does not significantly affect the formation of individual tornadoes. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for comprehending severe weather dynamics.
