How do I read wind direction and wind speed information?

In the weather forecast, wind direction and wind speed are displayed using a direction abbreviation, an arrow and a value in km/h.

What does the direction abbreviation mean?

The wind direction indicates which direction the wind is coming from.

• N: Wind from the north
• NE: Wind from the north-east
• E: Wind from the east
• SE: Wind from the south-east
• S: Wind from the south
• SW: Wind from the south-west
• W: Wind from the west
• NW: Wind from the north-west

For example, a westerly wind comes from the west and blows towards the east. A south-easterly wind comes from the south-east and moves towards the north-west.

What does the arrow show?

The arrow illustrates the direction of the wind flow. With an easterly wind, it points west accordingly, as the wind comes from the east and blows to the west.

The direction abbreviation therefore indicates the origin of the wind, whilst the arrow shows where it is blowing to.

What does the km/h reading mean?

The value below the wind direction shows the expected wind speed in kilometres per hour.

The display

W – 12 km/h

means, for example, that the wind is coming from a westerly direction at approximately 12 km/h.