Weather
Cloud Identification
Excellent explanation of clouds
On that site it would be good to take a close look at the cloud types associated with thunderstorm types at:
and with severe weather at:
a few more photos of thunderstorm clouds appear at:
These are the clouds that MAY throw out strong, erratic dangerous winds. There are lesser rain clouds that can still hit you with a 15 to 20 kt. gusts that can be dangerous under some circumstances. These clouds may not be nearly as dramatic in appearance as some of those that appear above. Make a point of learning about relevant weather considerations where you kiteboard.
Weather Hazards
Wind Names
- Abroholos
- Andhi or Kali Andhi
- Austru
- Autan or Antane or Autune
- Bali Wind
- Barat
- Barber
- Bayamo
- Bentu de Soli
- Bise
- Bora
- Borasco
- Boreas
- Brickfielder
- Brisa or Briza
- Brisote
- Brubu
- Bull's Eye Squall
- Buran or Burga
- Calima
- Canterbury Northwester
- Cape Doctor
- Caver or Kaver
- Cers
- Chergui or Sharqi
- Chinook
- Chubasco
- Churada
- Cierzo
- Contrastes
- Cordonazo
- Coromell
- Cyclone
- Diablo
- Doctor
- El Norte
- Elephanta
- Etesian
- Euros
- Foehn
- Fremantle Doctor
- Garbi
- Gerence
- Ghibli or Gibli
- Gregale
- Haboob
- Harmattan
- Helm Wind
- Hurricane
- Jugo
- Karajol or Qarajel or Quara
- Katabatic Winds
- Khamsin
- Knik Wind
- Kona
- Leste
- Levante or Levanter
- Levantera
- Levanto
- Leveche
- Lodos
- Lombarde
- Maestro
- Mara'amu
- Marin
- Matanuska Wind
- Maloya
- Meltemi
- Mistral
- Moazagotl
- Nashi or N'aschi
- Nor'easter or Northeaster
- Nor'wester
- Nortada
- Norther
- Ora
- Ostria or Auster
- Pali
- Pampero
- Papagayo
- Peler
- Poniente or Ponente
- Poyraz
- Puelche
- Quas or Kaus or Cowshee
- Santa Ana or Sundowner
- Scirocco or Sirocco
- Sereko
- Shamal
- Sharki
- Simoom
- Squamish
- Suahili
- Suestado
- Sumatra
- Taku Wind
- Thehuantepecer
- Tramontana or Garigliano
- Typhoon
- Vardar or Vardarac
- Vendaval or Vendavales
- Vent d'Espagne
- Virazon
- Warm Braw
- White Squall
- Williwaw
- Willy-Willy
- Zephyr or Zephyros
- Zonda or Sondo
How to determine wind strengths
Wind speed and visual clues
Below you can find the Beaufort scale and some visual clues to how strong the wind is personally I use the following:
- A few white caps: 12-15 knots
- Many white caps but no sand blowing about the beach: 15-20 knots
- A lot of sand blowing like a moving river over the beach: 20-30 knots
- Sand blowing in clouds like a fog and lots of spray getting blown off the waves: 30-40 knots
- When the wind start pushing me around and it gets hard to stand straight: 40+ knots.
The Beaufort Scale (BFT)
Force Speed (knots) Description Sea state
- Force 4: 11-16 knots, moderate breeze, small waves, frequent white caps
- Force 5: 17-21 knots, fresh breeze, moderate rather long waves, many white caps, some spray
- Force 6: 22-27 knots, strong breeze, some large waves, extensive white foam crests, some spray
- Force 7: 28-33 knots, near gale, sea heaped up, streaks of foam blowing with the wind
- Force 8: 34-40 knots, gale Fairly high and long waves, crests breaking into spin drift, blowing foam in prominent streak
Note
Be aware that white caps can indicate wind direction, the frequent they are the stronger the wind. Consistent water texture will indicate stable wind.
Wind Statistics
Worldwide in 10m height
Worldwide in 80m height
Africa in 80m height
Asia in 80m height
Australia in 80m height
Europe in 80m height
North America in 80m height
South America in 80m height
Wind Gradient
Wind Forecast Sites
Argentina
Australia
- seabreeze.com.au
- breakingwind.com.au
- bom.gov.au
- weatherzone.com.au
- windfinder.com
- coastalwatch.com.au
Austria
Barbados
Belgium
Brazil
Canada
Canary Islands
Caribbean
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Dominican Republic
France
Germany
- windfinder.com
- wetteronline.de
- wetter.com
- dwd.de
- dmi.dk Ostsee
- dmi.dk Nordsee
- bsh.de
- sylt-wetter.de
- sylt-wind.de
- windfinder.com North Germany
- windfinder.com South Germany
Greece
Ireland
Israel
Italy
- osmer.fvg.it
- rzs-hm.si
- ilmeteo.it
- meteo89.it
- surfreport.it
- windfinder.com
- sar.sardegna.it
- talamonewind.com
- ventodanord.com
- dwd.de
Mexico
Morocco
Netherlands
- weeronline.nl
- waterland.net
- knmi.nl
- anwb.nl
- weer.nl
- weerkamer.nl
- weerbureau.nl
- e-sport.nl
- actuelewaterdata.nl
- windfinder.com
Netherlands Antilles
New Zealand
Norway
Poland
Portugal
South Africa
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
UK
- weatheronline.co.uk
- meto.govt.uk
- xcweather.co.uk
- metcheck.com
- bbc.co.uk
- alexweb.info
- taklaman.com
- windfinder.com
Ukraine
Uruguay
USA
- usairnet.com
- nws.noaa.gov
- weather.com
- intellicast.com
- sailriders.com
- accuweather.com
- maps.fsl.noaa.gov
- windfinder.com
- hawaiianwind.com
