Named winds

[KAM]

Are there any named winds in the British Isles.

 

[VicS]

Winds between 34 and 40 knots are called Gale

 

[Skysail]

The only one I have heard of is the Helm wind, which blows in Cumbria. Google has more detail.

 

[Poignard]

When I lived on the Yorkshire coast I've heard people call a stiff northeasterly a "lazy wind" because instead of taking the trouble to go round you it went straight through you. ?

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Nowhere in the UK has consistent enough weather patterns for there to be regular winds to name. There are a few local phenomena that may be named, but they are a result of local topography and limited in the area they extend over. There's nothing like the Mediterranean named winds, which are predictable and last for several days, or longer.

There are a few other named local meteorological phenomena, but these aren't linked to anything but wind strength - for example, the Fen Blow is aeolian soil erosion as a result of strong winds following prolonged dry weather. But the wind merely has to be strong, not from a particular direction. It's rarer these days as farmers pay more attention to soil conservation; I've only seen it 2 or 3 times in the last 40 years, but it used to be a common thing.

 

[Hydrozoan]

There are a few here Weather Facts: British Weather Terms | weatheronline.co.uk though most are not very location-specific, those that are being the helm wind (see #3 above) and 'Robin Hood's wind In Yorkshire, a local name for a cold and raw northeasterly wind along the E coast and especially around the Whitby area.'

 

[alahol2]

Probably not exactly what you mean but there is a Soldier's Wind. I doubt you'd hear the name anywhere outside the British Isles.

 

[oldgit]

A soft warm local Micro Climate wind called "The Heinz" ?
Usually affecting a single boat.

 

[KAM]

Nowhere in the UK has consistent enough weather patterns for there to be regular winds to name. There are a few local phenomena that may be named, but they are a result of local topography and limited in the area they extend over. There's nothing like the Mediterranean named winds, which are predictable and last for several days, or longer.

That's what I was thinking too but it's interesting that a few people have mentioned north easters. I was stuck in Kinlochbervie a few years ago in spring where the wind seemed to be stuck blowing up to F6 NE for days on end. It maybe my imagination but it seems to happen most springs now.

 

[KAM]

The only one I have heard of is the Helm wind, which blows in Cumbria. Google has more detail.

Thanks Skysail thats really interesting.

 

[Iliade]

Not yet, but we are working hard (by common usage) to get NE-E winds in Kent/Sussex known as 'The Beast from the East.'

Due perhaps to the funnelling effect of the North Sea they are always considerably stronger than geostrophic forecasts imply and, of course, they are cutting in the winter.

 

[Biggles Wader]

A soft warm local Micro Climate wind called "The Heinz" ?
Usually affecting a single boat.

Divided into 57 different varieties and has a katabatic element.

 

[Stemar]

Well, I've called the wind a few things, usually when there's too little or, more often, suddenly too much.

 

[[159032]]

The Helm wind , or Helm Bar is in the May entry here Highlights of the year - BBC Weather Watchers

Also here in another form The Helm Wind and lenticular cloud.

.

 

[Easticks28]

When I lived on the Yorkshire coast I've heard people call a stiff northeasterly a "lazy wind" because instead of taking the trouble to go round you it went straight through you. ?

We have those in Norfolk too.

 

[KAM]

Thanks mercury. I think as a country were a bit impoverished with named winds. Perhaps we should have some more.

 

[johnalison]

There ought to be a name for the NE wind we've had for ages that has taken the edge off the heat wave recently and made last summer less rewarding that it might have been. I think I shall call it a 'Norseman'.

 

[KAM]

Ah that's the wind I was thinking of. Kept me pinned in Kinlochbervie for 2 weeks a few years back. It might be my imagination but they seem much more prevalent in spring than 20 years ago. Maybe needs something more poetic than Noresman.

 

[LittleSister]

The Helm wind , or Helm Bar is in the May entry here Highlights of the year - BBC Weather Watchers

Also here in another form The Helm Wind and lenticular cloud.

They have fun shaped lentils up there!