Wind 'variable'?

[mick]

Wind \'variable\'?

Please, someone, settle an argument. I say that the Met Office's description of wind as 'variable' means the wind direction in any given part of the forecast area will frequently change during the forecast period. Another says it means that the wind direction will be different in different parts of the forecast area. (I've just re-read that and I'm not sure if it means anything but hey, it's the weekend.)

 

[richardabeattie]

Re: Wind \'variable\'?

I vote for you. When the winds differ in different parts of the area they usually say so.

 

[Gordon]

Re: Wind \'variable\'?

Another is right......

 

[thomashoebus]

Re: Wind \'variable\'?

Variable Wind Direction.

* The wind direction may be considered variable if, during the 2-minute evaluation period, the wind speed is 6 knots or less.
* Also, the wind direction shall be considered variable if, during the 2-minute evaluation period, it varies by 60 degrees or more when the average wind speed is greater than 6 knots.

 

[Koeketiene]

Re: Wind \'variable\'?

It's Met Office speak for: we haven't got a clue

 

[snowleopard]

Re: Wind \'variable\'?

Or to put it more simply - they don't know what direction it's going to come from.

 

[charles_reed]

or

at what speed it's going to blow

 

[fireball]

Re: or

most forecasts read variable.... cos they really don't have a clue ....

We had one weekend last year waiting on the mooring as it was a F7 with the coastguard repeating the F4-5 SW wind forecast and suggesting it might occaisionally be F6 .... yer - we'd like it to DROP occaisionally to F6 !!

 

[oldharry]

Re: Wind \'variable\'?

[ QUOTE ]
Variable Wind Direction.

* The wind direction may be considered variable if, during the 2-minute evaluation period, the wind speed is 6 knots or less.
* Also, the wind direction shall be considered variable if, during the 2-minute evaluation period, it varies by 60 degrees or more when the average wind speed is greater than 6 knots.

[/ QUOTE ]

Errrr? So wind direction is classified 'variable' if its speed is less than 6 knots?

Doesnt make sense - what has speed to do with direction?

In any case 'Variable, force 2 or less' is a common enough phrase in forecasts - defining both direction and speed, not combining it. What I usually get when I want to make a longer passage - if its not a F7 on the nose! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[Skyva_2]

Re: Wind \'variable\'?

It's all here (Goon Show script of 1955)

The Greenslade Story, or 'Winds Light to Variable....'

http://www.thegoonshow.co.uk/scripts/greenslade.html

Eccles: Ha-low!
Greenslade: Good morning.
Eccles: Winds light to variable.
Greenslade: Pardon?
Eccles: I said, "Winds light to variable."
Greenslade: Oh, really.
Eccles: Yeah. Winds light to variable. I'm practicing, you know.
Greenslade: Don't tell me you're applying for the post of announcer?
Eccles: Oh, yeah! And I'll get it, too, you'll see! I'm wearing a Cambridge tie!
Greenslade: You? You were at Cambridge?
Eccles: Yeah!
Greenslade: What were you doing there?
Eccles: Buying a tie.

 

[Skyva_2]

Re: Wind \'variable\'?

Or, according to NOAA:

Variable Wind DIRECTION

A condition when:
The wind direction fluctuates by 60° or more during the 2-minute evaluation period and the wind speed is greater than 6 knots; or

The direction is variable and the wind speed is less than 6 knots.

 

[thomashoebus]

Re: Wind \'variable\'?

when wind speed is low wind directions are unpredictable because
small scale events (such as buildings trees boundaries land - see) and other meteorological events (on the microscale) (thermal eddies - temperature differences - small density differences...) have a greater effect on the wind than the source off the wind (synoptic scale gadient in the troposphere) thus making the wind variable. When the wind speed picks up the wind (because off its building momentum) can easily overcome these obstacles and becomes from a stable direction unless its variable off course /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

So winds can easily be from a steady direction when under 6 knots but that's unprecitable since it depends upon the fact that there are unpredctable factors or not.

 

[moondancer]

Re: Wind \'variable\'?

Sorry you are all wrong. I have checked and it means 'the wind will come from what ever course you are steering'