How to Determine Wind Direction

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Discover simple ways to determine wind direction, like reading leaves, water, and more

Co-authored by Nitzan Levy

Last Updated: December 9, 2024 Fact Checked

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Feeling the Wind

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Watching Water

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Utilizing Wind Devices

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Expert Q&A

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Tips

Knowing wind direction, or the direction that the wind is blowing from, can be imperative in several instances. For example, if you are sailing, flying a kite, or deciding where to place a windmill, the wind direction will be your most important piece of information. Luckily, there are several ways to determine wind direction. You can feel the wind, watch as it moves a body of water, or use specialized equipment to observe its direction.

How do you determine wind direction?

Use a tool, like a weather vane or wind sock, to determine wind direction. The weather vane will point in the direction of the wind, with the end resembling the tip of an arrow. The windsock has a large opening that will blow in the direction of the wind. Keep both devices on a sturdy base so they don’t blow away.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Feeling the Wind

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1
Wet your finger. Stick your index finger down in water to get it wet. Hold your finger up and away from your body. The side of your finger that gets cool is the side that the wind is blowing from.^{[1]
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- If you put your finger in your mouth to get it wet (which works well when there is no water nearby), be sure that you get it wet all the way around.
- Closing your eyes eliminates the visual messages coming to your brain and allows you to focus fully on your other senses. This way, you will be able to concentrate on feeling the wind with your skin.^{[2]
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Turn to face the direction you think the wind is coming from. The skin on your face will be more sensitive to a light wind than somewhere like your hands. Keep turning until you feel that you are facing directly into the wind.^{[3]
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If you are facing directly into the wind, it should sound the same in both ears. You can turn your head left to right and listen to the wind. Keep repositioning your body until the wind sounds the same in both sides.^{[4]
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Nitzan Levy
Sailing Instructor

Expert Interview. 24 April 2020.}

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Watching Water

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Watch the ripples. Look for a dark pool of water. Watch how the ripples flow over the water. These ripples are formed by the wind pushing the water and breaking its surface. The ripples will flow in the direction of the wind.^{[6]
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- If you're not near a large body of water, put out a pan or bucket of water. You should still able to see the wind rippling on the surface.
As you are looking out over the water, find a horizontal (left to right) stretch of water that is roughly 15 yards (14 m) wide. Observing the direction of this strip is a more accurate representation of wind direction than watching individual ripples. The strip will travel the same direction that the wind is blowing.^{[7]
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Determine wind patterns by watching the water from a boat. When detecting subtle variations in wind direction, such as on a sailboat, you should be looking forward and back. Watch how the wind is affecting the water in front of you by focusing on a horizontal stretch of ripples in front of you. Also, glance back behind you to see how the wind is behaving there. This allows you to observe changes in the wind directly rather than waiting for your boat to react.^{[8]
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- Whether you are looking forward or back, you will use the same technique of identifying a horizontal stretch and observing the ripples.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Utilizing Wind Devices

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Perhaps the simplest of all wind monitoring devices is a tassel or piece of string. Tie a lightweight string or tassel to an object and let it dangle. As the wind blows, the string or tassel will blow right along with it. The wind is blowing in the direction that the tassel points.^{[9]
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You can make devices, such as an anemometer, to measure wind direction. These can be simple homemade devices, or complex precision tools. Either way, the anemometer cups the wind and spins, indicating both the direction and intensity of the wind.^{[10]
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Hang a wind sock. A wind sock is a device that has one large opening attached to a pole or base. The opening on the other end is much narrower. As the wind blows through the sock, it will turn to point in the direction that the wind is blowing.^{[11]
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- You can also hang up flags to get a sense of where the wind is blowing.^{[12]
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  Expert Source
  
  Nitzan Levy
  Sailing Instructor
  
  Expert Interview. 24 April 2020.}
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Install a weather vane. A weather vane is designed to point directly into the wind. One side of the weather vane will be a narrow, pointed end (usually resembling the tip of an arrow). The other end is made wider to catch the wind. As the wind blows, you can see the arrow point directly into the wind. You must put the weather vane on a sturdy base or pole.^{[13]
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- A lot of boats have an arrow installed on top of the mast—this is called a Windex, and it flips in the direction that the wind is coming from.^{[14]
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  Expert Source
  
  Nitzan Levy
  Sailing Instructor
  
  Expert Interview. 24 April 2020.}

Expert Q&A

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Can you predict wind direction?

Nitzan Levy
Sailing Instructor
Captain Nitzan Levy is a Sailor, Social Entrepreneur, and the Founder of Sailors NYC, a recreational sailors’ club based in Jersey City, New Jersey that specializes in cruising boats and a variety of community programs. Capt. Levy has over 20 years of sailing experience and has sailed in many places around the world including: the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, The Caribbean, and the Indian Ocean. Capt. Levy is a U.S. Coast Guard Licensed Master of vessels up to 50 Tons with Auxiliary Sail and Assistance Towing Endorsements. Capt. Levy is also a NauticEd Level V Captain Rank Chief Instructor, an American National Standards Assessor, an SLC instructor, an ASA (American Sailing Association) Certified Instructor Bareboat Chartering, and an Israeli licensed skipper on Boats for International Voyages.

Nitzan Levy

Sailing Instructor

Expert Answer

Sometimes, but it really depends on where you are. Checking the weather report ahead of time definitely helps, but there are other factors you need to consider. For instance, the New York Harbor has an unpredictable wind direction thanks to all of the surrounding buildings.

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How to know clockwise and anti-clockwise wind directions?

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As a general rule, wind around a high-pressure system flows clockwise and around a low-pressure weather system flows anti-clockwise. If the wind is at your back, the "high" pressure is generally to your right.

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Tips

You can also hold a lighter or match up in a light breeze and observe the flame. The flame will blow in the direction that the wind is blowing. Do not do this on a very windy or breezy day, as the wind could cause sparks to travel and start a fire.

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