Britannica Sources used in this answer

Gulf Stream

How much warmer can Gulf Stream water be than nearby waters off New England in winter?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Map of the North Atlantic Ocean showing major ocean currents, with warm currents like the Gulf Stream and North Atlantic Drift highlighted in pink and cold currents in blue. Arrows indicate current directions and relative speeds, connecting the eastern coasts of North America, the western coasts of Europe and Africa, and the Arctic region. — Gulf Stream Major warm and cold currents of the North Atlantic Ocean.

During the winter, the surface waters of the Gulf Stream off the coast of New England can be approximately 20 °F (11 °C) warmer than the surface waters located just 150 miles (240 km) to the northwest.1