Why do hurricanes usually turn northeast after hitting land ?
2007-12-18 09:46:47 · 4 answers · asked by I'm not telling you! 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
In the lower 48, the westerlies are responsible for turning the hurricanes NE.
2007-12-18 10:02:57 · answer #1 · answered by WR 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tropical revolving storms (hurricanes, typhoons, tropical cyclones) form in the easterly wind regime of the tropics. As they get further from the equator so they become more and more under the influence of the westerlies and so they turn towards the east. While they can turn east after hitting land, the land has nothing to do with it. They can also turn east over the ocean and many do. It is the winds that steer them not the land or the sea.
2007-12-18 11:25:47 · answer #2 · answered by tentofield 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good question and here is the scientific answer you wanted. Hurricanes are steered by the upper atmosphere. They normally begin to turn north and then northeast as they are steered about a large anticyclone like the Bermuda High over the north atlantic or western north Pacific.
2007-12-18 12:20:21 · answer #3 · answered by 1ofSelby's 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They follow the prevailing winds.
2007-12-18 11:46:45 · answer #4 · answered by einstein 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋