The effect of wind forcing on existing estuarine plumes in a coupled estuary-shelf environment is studied here using a three-dimensional primitive-equation model. The emphasis is on wide estuaries so that the Coriolis force cannot be ignored. Over the shelf, the plume responds mostly to the wind-induced surface Ekman drift. Under downwelling-favorable wind, an additional downwind coastal jet occurs that elongates the plume along the shore. For cross-shelf winds, the nearshore Ekman drift is considerably retarded by the sea level setup or setdown. The retardation is particularly effective when the stratification increases. These properties of wind-driven coastal circulations determine the first-order plume responses. Inside the estuary, the down estuary wind reinforces the gravitational circulation, but the up-estuary wind opposes it. Both winds are effective local forcings that make the remotely forced signals from the shelf unlikely to be detected. Compared to longitudinal winds, cross-estuary w... Abstract The effect of wind forcing on existing estuarine plumes in a coupled estuary-shelf environment is studied here using a three-dimensional primitive-equation model. The emphasis is on wide estuaries so that the Coriolis force cannot be ignored. Over the shelf, the plume responds mostly to the wind-induced surface Ekman drift. Under downwelling-favorable wind, an additional downwind coastal jet occurs that elongates the plume along the shore. For cross-shelf winds, the nearshore Ekman drift is considerably retarded by the sea level setup or setdown. The retardation is particularly effective when the stratification increases. These properties of wind-driven coastal circulations determine the first-order plume responses. Inside the estuary, the down estuary wind reinforces the gravitational circulation, but the up-estuary wind opposes it. Both winds are effective local forcings that make the remotely forced signals from the shelf unlikely to be detected. Compared to longitudinal winds, cross-estuary w...