Wind direction

n. The direction of the wind vector.

• Discussion

In fire behavior modeling, wind direction is the direction the wind is pushing the fire and is indicated by the direction the smoke plume is traveling. Wind direction can be specified with respect to true north or with respect to the upslope direction. In weather applications, wind direction is the direction the wind is coming from (that is, opposite the direction the wind vector). For example, a south wind blows from south to north, so the wind direction for fire modeling is north.

• Units

   

  Wind direction is measured in:

  • degrees clockwise from uphill (direction the wind is pushing the fire)

  • degrees clockwise from North (direction the wind is blowing from)

   

  Sometimes wind direction is reported or forecast only in cardinal directions with respect to north. Use the following table to convert to degrees clockwise from North.

   

  cardinal direction	degrees clockwise from North
  N	0
  NE	45
  E	90
  SE	135
  S	180
  SW	225
  W	270
  NW	315

   

• See Also

  • Fire behavior

  • Smoke

  • Wind

  • Wind vector

   

• Notes

  • Author 

    Joe Scott, Research Forester

    Systems for Environmental Management

     

  • Last update 

    August 2007