In Which Prevailing Wind Belt Is the United States Located?
Most of the contiguous United States is located in the prevailing southwesterly wind belt, though part of the Southeast falls into the prevailing northeasterly trade winds belt. These wind belts affect the weather that the United States receives throughout the year.
Wind belts blow in the direction indicated in their name. For example, the prevailing southwesterly wind belt blows from the southwest to the northeast in the Northern Hemisphere, and the prevailing northeasterly wind belt blows from the northeast to the southwest. These wind belts are caused by the unequal heating of the Earth by the sun, which causes areas of differing air pressure. Air flows from areas of high pressure towards areas of low pressure, creating winds.