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Which Global Winds Are Responsible for Most of the Local Weather in North Carolina?

The Earth is divided into latitudinal zones that feature global winds. These air currents exist in the midlevels of the atmosphere and steer air masses and weather systems. North Carolina is situated in the westerlies zone. While the westerlies shape general weather features, conditions in a particular location in North Carolina depend largely upon altitude and geographic features. Diverse geography creates different weather across the state, often at the same time.

Definition of Westerlies
- Westerlies supress wave height along the North Carolina coast.
  
  Westerlies are global wind currents that occur in a temperate zone, which ranges from 30 degrees to 60 degrees latitude. Currents in this zone move weather systems and air masses generally from west to east across the United States. According to the University of California, San Diego, westerlies create larger waves along the Pacific Coast of the continental United States than the Atlantic Coast. Along the East Coast, including North Carolina, westerlies approach opposite from ocean waves, suppressing wave height.
North Carolina's Position in the Westerlies Zone
- North Carolina is located in the lower end of the temperate latitudes.
  
  North Carolina occupies the southern edge of the westerlies, or temperate, zone. The latitudes in the state range from 33.5 degrees to 37 degrees North latitude. The state capital, Raleigh, sits at 36 degrees North latitude.
Effect of Westerlies and Position on North Carolina Weather
- Westerlies move as waves, rather than in a smooth flow. These waves help determine general weather conditions in North Carolina. During the winter months, the westerlies and the jet stream locate over or very near North Carolina. The atmospheric flows bring from time to time cold air from higher latitudes, especially in Canada and the Arctic, fronts and precipitation events into North Carolina. In the summer, the westerlies generally retreat to the north, resulting in a persistent warm, humid pattern that is interrupted by occasional frontal passages and hurricanes.
Other Factors in Local North Carolina Weather
- Mountain regions experience colder weather and more frozen precipitation in winter.
  
  Although westerlies shape general weather, geography and location determine the particular weather, which can vary significantly throughout North Carolina due to diverse geography. In the winter, high altitudes result in colder temperatures in western North Carolina while warm water eddies from Gulf Stream moderate temperatures along the Outer Banks. Southport, on the state's southeast coast, has average temperatures comparable to northern Florida, while Mount Mitchell is on average colder than Buffalo, New York. The mountains, especially west-facing slopes, receive considerable precipitation from up-sloping air from the west.

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