Weather Forecasting ... On-Line

Wind Shifts

Wind flow across a large area tends to change direction and vary in speed. In some areas, the wind changes direction abruptly. This change in direction typically occurs along what is called a wind shift line. We define a wind shift line as follows:

Wind Shift Line

A curve along which the wind direction shifts
by at least 60 degrees; the curvature of the flow
across the wind shift line is cyclonic, i.e.,
counter-clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere.

The figures below are examples of wind shift lines that you may find associated with a cold front and warm front. They are located by a series of plotted wind observations.

Wind Shift Example Wind Shift Example

The figures below are examples of wind shift lines that you may find associated with a trough line and an inverted trough (such as a tropical wave).

Wind Shift Example Wind Shift Example

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last updated on 3/22/10