Activities for Students - Drawing Winds Around Pressure Systems
These rules are for the Northern Hemisphere only.
- Winds flow CLOCKWISE around high pressure systems.
- Winds are deflected OUTWARD about 30 degrees toward lower pressure in high pressure systems due to friction.
- Winds are nearly CALM in the center of high pressure systems.
- Winds are strongest around pressure systems where the isobars are packed. (Closest together).
- Winds flow COUNTERCLOCKWISE around low pressure systems.
- Winds are deflected INWARD about 30 degrees toward lower pressure in low pressure systems due to friction.
- Winds are always named FROM WHERE THEY COME. A north wind comes from the north and generally brings cold weather. A south wind comes from the south and brings warm weather. An easterly wind comes from the east. Along the east coast, an east wind is from the ocean and thus brings moisture. A west wind comes from the west. In much of the nation, a west wind is a dry wind but not so along the West Coast of the United States where west and southwest winds come from the ocean and bring moisture. For much of the nation, a northwest wind brings cold and dry weather into the area. A northeast wind comes from the northeast and often brings cold and wet weather. In many areas, this could mean snow during the winter months. A southwest wind comes from the southwest and would generally bring warm and dry weather.
Try the following activities!
