Which description best summarizes a high-pressure system's weather pattern?

• A. Winds blow outward and clockwise around the center; slow moving; good weather
• B. Winds converge toward center; stormy weather
• C. Winds cross isobars without pattern
• D. Winds are nonexistent

Answer: (A)

High-pressure systems feature sinking air that spreads out at the surface, creating outward flow from the center. In the Northern Hemisphere, the Coriolis effect deflects this outward motion to the right, resulting in a clockwise circulation around the center. Because the pressure gradient is usually gentle for a broad high, the winds are typically light and slow-moving. This combination—outward and clockwise winds around the center, slow movement, and generally fair, stable weather—best describes a high-pressure system. By contrast, a low-pressure system draws air inward toward the center and tends to bring clouds and storms, and winds crossing isobars isn’t the defining pattern of a steady high.