The warm ocean current that flows north along the US east coast is the Gulf Stream. It begins in the Gulf of Mexico, passes through the Straits of Florida, and follows the coastline before turning eastward near Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.
The Gulf Stream is a powerful western boundary current of the North Atlantic Ocean. Trade winds and Earth’s rotation help organize the broader North Atlantic circulation, concentrating the flow along North America’s eastern edge. Near Florida, it is often called the Florida Current; farther north, it is recognized as the Gulf Stream.
The current carries warm tropical water northward and influences weather, marine ecosystems, and coastal temperatures. It is often confused with the North Atlantic Current, which is a continuation farther northeast across the Atlantic. The cold Labrador Current flows southward, while the Canary Current flows south along northwest Africa.