How does the Somali Current change direction during the winter monsoon?

During the summer months, the Somali Current flows northeastward along the coast of East Africa, driven by the southwest monsoon. As the monsoon winds reverse to the northeast in September, the current begins to weaken.1

During the winter (northeast) monsoon, the Somali Current disappears entirely and is replaced by a slow southwestward drift. This seasonal reversal is a defining characteristic of the surface circulation in the northern Indian Ocean, where currents shift in response to the changing monsoon winds.1234