eli5: How do storms you see moving on a weather radar app move in the opposite direction of the prevailing winds in the region? Why are they not pushed ahead by the wind and going with it?

Question

Gulf Coast U.S. for reference. Looking at a radar app and the Windy app today, I noticed the wind was blowing to the north but the line of thunderstorms was moving south. Help me understand this please!

In: Planetary Science

Answer 1

Sometimes thunderstorms will kick off along the edge of something and eat their way into that air. For example, the Sea Breeze along the coast is due to the warm air over land rising and being replaced by the cooler air over the water. Under the right conditions, this moist air moving over the warm land will grow into thunderstorms, which can then move toward the coast, against the sea breeze direction. They’re eating the moist air from the coastal water.