The correct answer is B) A veering wind. In the Northern Hemisphere, when a hurricane approaches, the wind direction will veer, or shift clockwise, as the storm center passes. This indicates that the vessel is in the dangerous semicircle of the hurricane, where the wind and seas are the most severe. The other answer choices are incorrect because: A) A backing wind (counterclockwise shift) would indicate the vessel is in the less dangerous semicircle of the hurricane. C) A strong, gusty wind alone does not necessarily indicate the hurricane's dangerous semicircle. D) A norther is a cold wind from the north, unrelated to hurricane wind patterns.