Since most weather systems travel from west to east, why do hurricanes typically travel east to west ?

Answer 1

The weather systems that generally travel eastward that you're thinking of (i.e., the ones that we in much of the USA experience) are what are called "midlatitude" systems, in that they occur between about 30 and 60 deg N latitude. Hurricanes however are tropical in origin, from about 5 N to 20 deg N latitude.

The prevailing airflow in the tropics is not the same as in the midlatitudes, as it is generally westward. Hurricanes are embedded in that flow, and therefore typically travel east to west unlike their more northern cousins.

For a helpful graphic, take a look at the link provided below - this is an excellent web site for many different weather topics as well.

Answer 2

Although weather systems travel from west to east, each individual system have a counter-clockwise spin to it. Most hurricanes are tropical meaning it happens in warm weather and usually where warm waters are located. The reason the west do not have hurricanes is because the sea water coming down from alaska. It takes water a while to warm up, usually down in Los Angeles and beyond.

Anyways, along the gulf of mexico and in the atlantic ocean, the water are warm for a good part of the year. The weather system spin counter-clockwise down to the gulf or the atlantic ocean and picks up mosture and energy from the evaporating warm water and swings around coming back inland from the south/south-east/east.

Warm water is the key to the hurricane's strength. As it goes inland, it loses strength and dies down. That's why most of the hurricane start in the atlantic ocean in the US. The weather pattern is not true near the equator since the systems goes east to west.

Answer 3

The prevailing weather pattern is weat to east. When a weather system gets very strong it will move east to west. The other thing is a hurricane will never cross over the equator.

Answer 4

Good question. Here is the scientific answer. These storms originate in the prevailing easterlies, winds that flow east to west. This current then becomes the steering current but due to Coriolis accelerations over a period of time will begin to curve towards the right. At some point they will come under the influence of the dominant mid latitude circulation which will steer them to the north and to the northeast. What I have described here would apply to storms forming off the coast of Africa. A similar scenario is followed in the eastern Pacific, the north western Pacific and Bay of Bengal ocean basins.

Answer 5

Hurricanes dont typically travel east to west... they go south to north- west to east- southeast to northwest---- all different directions.