The response of inner shelf fronts to wind forcing is numerically studied here by using a three- dimensional primitive-equation model. The front and its associated circulation are maintained by discharging light water near the surface and withdrawing heavier water from below along one vertical wall of a cyclic channel. Subsequently, a spatially uniform alongshore wind is applied. Responses to an upwelling-favorable wind and to a downwelling-favorable wind are highly asymmetric. Upwelling-favorable wind forces the light-water pool to surface and expand offshore. The pool is quickly detached from the source by the newly upwelled water. Even for a moderate plume and strong wind, it is unlikely that a downwind coastal jet can develop and force the plume to turn against its natural direction of propagation. Recent observations of Chesapeake plume support this finding. Downwelling-favorable wind slowly narrows the plume, inside which a strong coastal jet is developed. For a density anomaly of finite alongshore extent, the jet intensifies downstream, reaches a maximum near the lead isopycnal, and decays thereafter. To compensate for the downstream acceleration, strong onshore flow develops near the upstream edge of the plume. If the wind persists, the enhanced onshore flow further narrows the plume and triggers a second intrusion. Unstable waves develop behind the second intrusion. They are, however, limited to small amplitudes by the prevailing onshore Ekman drift. ¿American Geophysical Union 1987