Final answer:
The statement is false. Strong surface winds prevent the formation of a nocturnal inversion by causing the air to mix, disrupting the layer of cooler air that is required for an inversion to occur.
Step-by-step explanation:
On a cold night, very strong surface winds can help establish a nocturnal inversion. This statement is false. Strong winds usually break down temperature inversions by mixing the air. A temperature inversion occurs when the air near the ground is cooler than the air above it.
This is more likely to happen on clear, still nights when the ground loses heat quickly through radiation, leading to cooler air at the surface while the air above remains warmer. The presence of strong winds would lead to greater mixing of the air, thus preventing the formation of a stable layer of cold air near the surface which is necessary for an inversion to develop.