Other features in that flow, such as high and low pressure systems, can greatly alter the speed and the path of the hurricane. In turn, it can modify the environment around the storm. Typically, a hurricane's forward speed averages around 15-20 mph. However, some hurricanes stall, often causing devastatingly heavy rain. Others can accelerate to more than 60 mph.
Some hurricanes follow a fairly straight course, while others loop and wobble along the path .
These seemingly erratic changes are difficult to forecast and will be discussed in more detail in the Forecasting section of this module. The increased winds on the right side increase the storm surge described in the Hazards section of this module. Tornadoes are also more common here. Looking at the figure above, pretend you are standing behind the hurricane with your back to the steering flow. In this case, the right side is the eastern section of the hurricane.