Coast Guard Exams
Question 1070Navigation General70% to pass

The first cloud formations you can use to indicate the bearing of the center of a hurricane or tropical storm are _______________.

AI Explanation
The correct answer is B) the point of convergence of the cirrus clouds. The cirrus clouds are the first cloud formations that can be used to indicate the bearing of the center of a hurricane or tropical storm. As the storm approaches, the cirrus clouds will begin to spread out from the center of the storm system, forming a distinctive "outflow" pattern. By observing the direction that the cirrus clouds are pointing, you can determine the approximate location of the storm's center. The other answer choices are incorrect because they do not accurately represent the cloud formations used to locate the storm center. The direction of movement of thunderstorms on radar (A) may indicate the storm's path, but not the center. The point of origin of the altostratus clouds (C) and the darkest point of the clouds in the "bar" of the storm (D) are not the primary indicators used to determine the storm's bearing.

Ready to test your knowledge?