Gulf Stream meanders and their associated frontal eddies have been numerically simulated using a model tuned to the southern portion of the South Atlantic Bight. A run which produced events most similar to those observed in nature was identified, and the dynamics of a particular meander event were examined in detail. A complex array of momentum balances are obtained, and they vary with position within the feature. While the along-isobath flow is predominantly in geostrophyic balance, several of the nonlinear advection terms in both horizontal momentum equations play important roles in the space-time development of the flow. In particular, the vertical advection of horizontal momentum as well as frictional dissipation are now recognized as important contributors to the dynamical balances in the vicinity of the steep continental slope. It would appear that the semigeostrophic equations constitute the simplest description of this system. ¿ American Geophysical Union 1995