Texas A&M University (TAMU) ATMO201 Weather and Climate Exam 2 Practice

Surface winds in the Northern Hemisphere move counterclockwise around a low-pressure system due to the Coriolis effect, which is a result of the Earth's rotation. When air moves from a high-pressure area towards a low-pressure area, it doesn't travel in a straight line due to this effect. Instead, the path of the wind is deflected to the right of its direction of motion in the Northern Hemisphere, leading to a counterclockwise circulation pattern around the low-pressure center.

This counterclockwise motion results in winds that converge towards the low pressure, causing air to rise, which can lead to cloud formation and precipitation. This phenomenon is also in stark contrast to what happens around high-pressure systems, where winds circulate in a clockwise direction. Understanding this behavior helps in predicting weather patterns associated with different pressure systems.