
Neptune’s weather is extremely stormy with winds reaching supersonic speeds. Strangely, the winds generally flow in a direction opposite to that of the planet’s rotation, at high latitudes, but flow in the same direction of the planet’s rotation at lower latitudes. The difference is due to what is called the “skin effect,” the tendency of currents to flow only on the outer layers. Also, not being completely solid, Neptune undergoes differential rotation, that is its rotation at the equator takes 18 hours while its magnetic field takes 16 hours and its poles take 12 hours. It has the most pronounced differential rotation in the Solar System which also results in strong latitudinal wind shears.