Windy.com - wind speeds over land

[Captn D]

I am often surprised annd puzzled that the very efficient Windy.com site nearly alaways shows strong winds over sea areas which drop off rapidly, (typically 2 beauforts) when reaching land. Rarely are gales shown over inland areas. I know that wind is generally alot stronger over open sea, but never thought it was this dramatic!
Is Windy.com being correct on this ?

 

[mm42]

Land gives a lot more friction to slow wind than water, hence synoptic charts show wind speed speed at altitude.

 

[lw395]

Have a look at reported wind speeds on eg xcweather.co.uk
Generally, you will see more wind either on the coast, or at the tops of hills...

 

[robertj]

I’ve used windy extensively and found it to be very accurate.

 

[grumpy_o_g]

Land gives a lot more friction to slow wind than water, hence synoptic charts show wind speed speed at altitude.

Yep, thermic activity causes a lot of mixing between upper and boundary layer. That's the notorious wind gradient that can catch out pilots as they descend through it. I've seen the airspeed drop by as much as 10 or 15 knots as the aircraft suddenly loses much of the headwind on approach. Wiki explains it well I think https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_gradient

 

[Birdseye]

I am often surprised annd puzzled that the very efficient Windy.com site nearly alaways shows strong winds over sea areas which drop off rapidly, (typically 2 beauforts) when reaching land. Rarely are gales shown over inland areas. I know that wind is generally alot stronger over open sea, but never thought it was this dramatic!
Is Windy.com being correct on this ?

yes. you should also see a change in direction as the wind moves ashore.

 

[SV Kittiwake]

I’ve used windy extensively and found it to be very accurate.

Same here, can't really comment on the reasons behind land vs sea wind speeds, but it's been almost spookily accurate while we've been in the Med, especially the ICON forecast.

 

[robertj]

Same here, can't really comment on the reasons behind land vs sea wind speeds, but it's been almost spookily accurate while we've been in the Med, especially the ICON forecast.

On one channel crossing I reluctantly altered course due to a wind change nearer the coast on the forecast of windy. If windy was wrong I would have had a twenty mile beat against fresh winds on the approach. Instead I just kept bearing away on the altering direction just as it predicted.

 

[GHA]

Same here, can't really comment on the reasons behind land vs sea wind speeds, but it's been almost spookily accurate while we've been in the Med, especially the ICON forecast.

Same for the Met office, surprisingly accurate. Even 5 days forecast is close most of the time. Suspect most of the common complaining about forecasts is just local effects.

http://prettygoats.com/pages/sciwind.html