You can also view previously answered questions in the HSW Question Archive . Answer Hurricanes that threaten the U.S. start their lives over the Sahara desert in Africa. They move out over the Atlantic Ocean to build into tropical storms and then hurricanes. While they are over the Atlantic near the equator, hurricanes are pushed toward the U.S. by trade winds .
Trade winds are very consistent westward winds near the equator.
Winds along the east coast tend to blow in a north or northeast direction, and there is also the eastward-blowing jet stream . These winds often cause a storm that comes in from the west to appear to track right up the east coast, or to approach the east coast and then back off. Any number of fronts or pressure zones may be in place over the U.S. as the hurricane comes in, and these systems have their own winds that can significantly influence a hurricane as well. If a storm tracks from the west and does not get far enough north to lose the effect of the trade winds, it will instead continue west into the Gulf of Mexico with the trade winds and land in Texas or Mexico. Inc. All rights reserved.