Roaring Forties
![The Roaring Forties in the Cook Strait of New Zealand produce high waves, and they erode the shore as shown in this image.](/Images/godic/202502/09/Turbid_Waters_Surround_New_Zealand0345.jpg")
![The Clipper Route, taken by ships sailing from Europe to Australia in order to take advantage of the Roaring Forties](/Images/godic/202502/09/ClipperRoute0345.png")
The Roaring Forties are strong westerly winds found in the Southern Hemisphere, generally between the latitudes of 40 and 50 degrees. The strong west-to-east air currents are caused by the combination of air being displaced from the Equator towards the South Pole and the Earth's rotation, and there are few landmasses to serve as windbreaks.