The Gulf Stream is a powerful western boundary current in the North Atlantic. Originating in the Gulf of Mexico, waters in the Gulf Stream travel at speeds of about one to three knots (1.15-3.45 miles per hour or 1.85-5.55 kilometers per hour). The Gulf Stream influences the climate of the east coast of Florida, keeping temperatures warmer in the winter and cooler than the other southeastern states in the summer. Since it also extends toward Europe, it warms western European countries as well.