Clearing Wind

A typical Montauk winter weather pattern involves a Low Pressure System (LPS) rolling up the coast ahead of a cold front. As the LPS moves offshore the wind switches to the northwest quarter. When the wind comes from the northwest it is dry, clear and cold. It sweeps away the clouds and rain, hence the name “clearing wind”.

In the photo above you can see the frontal boundary, with sunlight pouring down to the West, while the location from where the photo was taken is still under heavy cloud cover. This weather pattern, and the surf conditions it produces, is largely responsible for how I found my way to Montauk and why we make our home here.