Winds Associated with Cyclones: counterclockwise around a low in the northern hemisphere

WW2010
University of Illinois

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Winds Associated with Cyclones counterclockwise around a low in the northern hemisphere

The counterclockwise winds associated with northern hemisphere midlatitude cyclones play a significant role in the movement air masses, transporting warm moist air northward ahead of a low while dragging colder, drier air southward behind it.

[Image: low pressure animation (53K)]
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Rising air in the vicinity of a low pressure center favors the development of clouds and precipitation, which is why cloudy weather (and likely precipitation) are commonly associated with an area of low pressure.

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Credits and Acknowledgments for WW2010.
Department of Atmospheric Sciences (DAS) at
the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.