Britannica Sources used in this answer

How fast does the Gulf Stream move near Cape Hatteras?

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

World map showing major ocean current systems, with arrows indicating the direction and speed of warm and cold currents in the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Southern, and Arctic Oceans. Warm currents are marked in red and cold currents in blue, with currents labeled by name and symbols denoting those that reverse direction seasonally. A legend explains current speed categories and color codes. — ocean current Major ocean current systems of the world.

As the Gulf Stream flows northward along the continental slope of North America, its velocity gradually decreases as it approaches Cape Hatteras. By the time the current reaches this area, its velocity has slowed to approximately one knot.1