westerlies
Sign in to saveright|thumb|400px|The westerlies (blue) and trade winds (yellow and brown) thumb|397x397px|The general atmospheric circulation. Trade winds (red), westerlies (white) and the South Pacific High|South Pacific anticyclone (blue)
Article
6 sectionsContents
- Behaviour
- Impact on ocean currents
- Extratropical cyclones
- Interaction with tropical cyclones
- See also
- References
right|thumb|400px|The westerlies (blue) and trade winds (yellow and brown) thumb|397x397px|The general atmospheric circulation. Trade winds (red), westerlies (white) and the South Pacific High|South Pacific anticyclone (blue)
The westerlies, anti-trades, or prevailing westerlies, are prevailing winds from the west toward the east in the middle latitudes between 30 and 60 degrees latitude. They originate from the high-pressure areas in the horse latitudes (about 30 degrees) and trend towards the poles and steer extratropical cyclones in this general manner. Tropical cyclones which cross the subtropical ridge axis into the westerlies recurve due to the increased westerly flow. The winds are predominantly from the southwest in the Northern Hemisphere and from the northwest in the Southern Hemisphere.