Reading the Wind Direction

Reading the wind direction: Often in higher winds found offshore, it is fairly easy to determine the wind's direction. In coastal areas, however winds are often lighter.

By Feel.  The best way to read winds is by feel on the face, however there are lots of other subtle clues nature offers up to show wind direction before you go in the water.

Knowing the wind direction before you get there is also a good bit of knowledge to have in your noodle.  Remember the old adage... "Never take a canoe anywhere your mind didn't already visit 5 minutes earlier!"

Wind Shadow. The most universal visual clue to wind direction is the wind shadow left at a shore line, or any other obstruction that may impede the wind.  The wind will be shielded from the water's surface by the shoreline, an island or any obstacle on the water, leaving a a glassy appearance in the 'wind shadow'. The photograph shows a stream with a glassy surface of water on the left side of the stream where the wind is prevented from touching the stream by the adjacent bank. The wind is therefore from the left in this picture and more specifically from the top left of the picture...notice the wind shadow is present at the top of the stream as well, where it turns right.

Airplanes and Birds. Airplanes and helicopters most often land and take-off into wind. Birds always land and take-off into wind.  A duck or sea bird will become more nervous if you are between it and the wind as "into wind" is their escape route.  A duck, seagull or goose will let a boat get closer behind them. Not that they are on water, but for reference cows always face into wind and horses stick their asses to the wind.

Birds on a perch or pole. Birds will only sit perched into wind.

Not that they are out on the water, but for reference, cows will always stand into wind.  Horses will put their ass to the wind.

Trees and Spanish Moss.

Trees adjacent to the shoreline will often indicate wind direction.  The pointed tops of coniferous trees will tip downwind, while palms will clearly indicate direction. Also Spanish Moss is one of nature's best wind socks.  This moss will indicate the direction of the slightest of breezes.

Cap clouds. Clouds that form on mountain or hill tops on islands and shorelines will form on the upwind side of the rising ground due to orographic lift from the rising ground of the mountain forcing the moving air aloft.

The photo of the mountain has a cap cloud that indicates the wind is from the left side in the photo.  the curved cloud is lower on the upwind side.  One can visualize the wind as approaching the mountain from the left, being forced to rise up and over it, all the while cooling down with altitude.  As it gets near the top of the peak, it is cooled to the point that water vapor condenses and forms a cloud.

The air movement over the top of the peak will often shear off and continue at its elevated altitude.  Much like a tidal rip, the wind current forms eddies on the back side of the obstacle.  Mountains are like rocks in water and the water and wind passing over it create similar wave and eddy effects.

A phenomenon known as mountain waves occur in the air in the lee of large mountains, sometimes causing airliners to have sudden violent clear air turbulence episodes. At times these giant wave forms continue downstream right across the Canadian Prairie. They are included here only because of their similarity to water wave forms. Read more about Mountain Waves in the section on Standing Waves elsewhere in this web site.

Foam streaks on the water that are caused by wind driven will always be aligned with the wind. Prominent streaking starts at about 25 knots, but can occur at much slower speeds due to reasons other than wind speed.  Fresh water lakes may exhibit streaking sooner depending on the makeup of contaminants in the water.

Fine spray from breaking wave tops will be blown by the wind and indicate wind direction.

Soaring birds will favour the upwind side of rising ground, be it a hill, mountain or cliff because there is an updraft and flying is easier.  If they are soaring they are definitely in an updraft.  If they are flapping their wings vigorously and heading away from their spot, they are probably in the lee of a hill and are trying to maintain altitude and get out of the settling air.

Wind Changes. Be aware as a cold front passes, the wind will usually change from 45 to 180 degrees very quickly.  The air temperature will also drop.  A cold front may be just one large dark cumulonimbus cloud.  Usually there will be brief period of  high winds as the cloud passes.