Talk:Wind direction

Direction confusion!
I would also like to see a line added close to the beginning that says more definitively. A South East wind means that the wind is originating from the South East. Currently the term is a bit vague for someone who is genuinely confused about this topic! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 207.6.255.6 (talk) 07:00, 9 September 2010 (UTC)

As a total meteorology noob, I've never understood why we describe wind as being "out of" a particular direction. It seems much more natural to describe the direction something blows to, not that it comes from. Any detail which would help a reader remember this, and how this custom was arrived at, would be great.

Also, on a wind speed and direction chart, there are lines with a dot at one end, and branches at the other end indicating speed. Does the dotted end indicate the source of the wind, or the direction it's blowing to? This seems like one of those "so obvious nobody mentions it" things, but when combined with the confusion detailed in my previous paragraph, I urge someone knowledgeable to explain this. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.41.157.205 (talk) 02:45, 8 January 2009 (UTC)
 * I would also like to know the origin of wind-direction conventions. I play soccer a lot, and since aiming is a lot harder than receiving, we want to know which way the wind is headed (i.e. not where it's coming from). I suppose farmers needed to know whether wind was carrying moisture..? No, probably not... It could have to do with the first wind vane being designed backwards or something :) Also - having long hair is a more hygienic alternative to wetting your finger. Diego Bank (talk) 23:28, 19 February 2009 (UTC)


 * Pilots when landing want to know where the wind is coming from, because they want to land into it. So a message from the tower saying "Wind 270 degrees" would indicate to a pilot to use a runway aligned as closely as possible with 270 degrees: runway direction is stated in degrees also, minus the last figure, so landing on Runway 27 ought to be straight into wind. Now here's a question: is wind direction at a location given in degrees true or degrees magnetic? Emeraude (talk) 13:48, 17 March 2013 (UTC)


 * The answer I've heard for pilots is "If you read it, it's true. If you hear it, it's magnetic." So on charts and in written reports, direction should be referenced to true north. Anything you hear on the radio like from an air traffic controller or automated weather reporting (ATIS) should be referenced to magnetic north. If there's potential for ambiguity with significant impact, the word "true" or "magnetic" can be explicitly added. Rairden (talk) 13:07, 3 October 2018 (UTC)


 * I admit I am guessing a little, but am pretty sure it has to do with the view of a meteorologist, who would be interested in a 'description' of the air mass that is approaching. So speaking of a northerly wind in the northern hemisphere will tell you immediately you are in for a cold day. Whether to the south of you is a lake, desert or forest is of less concern. Red Tiger 2009 (talk) 13:53, 20 August 2019 (UTC)

Can I add to the above comments which describe the confusion that this artical does nothing to resolve. I believe that this Wikipedia entry is quite wrong. A north wind blows from the north. A northerly wind is in the opposite direction and blows towards the north from the south. This has been the teaching for all my life. The artical will not let me edit it, therefore I state here that it is incorrect. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2A00:23C6:3518:4B01:2C05:BB54:DD40:BCC5 (talk) 17:30, 21 January 2020 (UTC)

South Wind and Southerly Wind
I agree that there is much confusion on this - even amongst professional meteorologists. When Kathleen Ferrier sings "Blow the wind southerly, southerly, southerly: Blow the wind southerly, southerly blow" she is talking about a wind blowing TO the south. A south wind blows FROM the south, a southerly wind blows TO the south; conversely a north wind blows FROM the north and a northerly wind blows TO the north. Consequently a north wind is the same as a southerly wind, and a south wind the same as a northerly wind.

The problem seems to be that professional weather forecasters giving bulletins on television have just, over the years, got lax, and so the language is changing, and even they don't realise the correct usage, let alone the general population. It happens with other words- eg LIE and LAY, but in most cases the meaning is obvious and not important. But the direction of the wind could have fatal consequences (don't get me going on 'The First Day Of Spring').

I once took part in an emergency planning exercise where a organo-phosphates factory was on fire, and I had to plot on a map the poisonous plume so the area could be evacuated. "Gold reports a southerly wind at force 3 at the site" was announced, so I drew a plume from the factory to the south. The whole exercise had to be stopped because, apparently, the plume should have gone to the north. "But a southerly wind is blowing to the south, a south wind is blowing to the north" I cried - and a bitter argument commenced. About half of those present seemed to think 'South' and 'Southerly' were synonymous.

Can a professional meteorologist give us the correct usage please?

86.187.228.77 (talk) 23:18, 26 September 2020 (UTC)

Continuing confusion
The lead still says 'Wind direction is reported by the direction from which it originates. For example, a north or northerly wind blows from the north to the south.[1]' Reference [1] is 'Origin of Wind' National Weather Service (USA presumably) ie https://www.weather.gov/jetstream/wind

This says 'Origin of Wind. Wind is simply air in motion. Usually in meteorology, when we are talking about the wind it is the horizontal speed and direction we are concerned about. For example, if you hear a report of a west wind at 15 mph (24 km/h) that means the horizontal winds will be coming FROM the west at that speed'.

It is thus defining 'West wind' as coming from the west. No one is disputing that, the dispute is about what 'Westerly wind' means - which that article makes no mention of. It cannot be used to substantiate 'a north or *northerly* wind blows from the north to the south'.

This may seem a minor point, but in some circumstances a confusion of wind direction may have life threatening consequences 109.144.21.182 (talk) 10:56, 20 February 2021 (UTC)

Science
it shows wind direction 136.158.82.80 (talk) 13:30, 22 May 2023 (UTC)

Science
It shows wind detection 136.158.82.80 (talk) 13:30, 22 May 2023 (UTC)