The region has a straight coastline and a narrow shelf. Large estuaries are common in Region I providing nursery areas for many species. After the onset of southward winds in the spring, upwelling raises isopycnals next to the coast, creating a density front and an equatorward jet over the shelf. The front and jet move farther offshore in response to stronger southward winds, and return onshore when the wind relaxes or reverses. A subsurface, poleward undercurrent is usually found over the shelf break.
Storms begin in fall and the flow field becomes less organized.
Eddies are found offshore in winter and the poleward Davidson Current develops over the shelf and slope. The transition between winter storms, with strongly fluctuating alongshore winds, to persistently southward winds can occur rapidly. In spring and summer, there are relaxations of several days in these winds, with periods of 1-3 weeks. After the onset of southward winds, measurements over the shelf suggest that a nearshore equatorward jet develops and quickly moves offshore. A poleward undercurrent is found over the shelf break and slope.