As a northward-moving hurricane passes to the east of an area, surface winds should change from ____.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

As a northward-moving hurricane passes to the east of an area, the rotation of the storm (counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere) causes the wind direction experienced in that area to change in a way that reflects the storm's movement and rotation. Initially, as the hurricane approaches, winds come from the northeast (as the leading edge of the hurricane is encountered). As the center of the hurricane moves closer but remains east, the winds shift to come from the north (directly from the side of the hurricane closest to the area). Finally, as the hurricane moves further north and away from the area, the winds come from the northwest (from the trailing edge of the hurricane). This sequence of wind direction changes (northeast to north to northwest) is consistent with the counterclockwise flow of air around the hurricane and its path relative to the area in question.

As a Northward-Moving Hurricane Passes to the East of an Area