How to Read a Wind Rose

A wind rose is a circular diagram used to record data about wind speeds and frequencies over a specified period
of time, which is handy if you want to know the average wind speeds for an area. When looking at a wind rose,
you'll see it's constructed with spokes coming out from a center point that show the wind direction; each of the
spokes are color-coded along their length to indicate the speed of the wind. The concentric circles on the wind
rose look like a target, and each circle provides a measurement to help you figure out how long the wind blew at
a certain speed.

Method 1
Looking at the Key and Units

1
Read the headline to find out the location. The location should be listed at the top or bottom of the diagram.
The data for a wind rose is taken from one specific area, usually one weather station, and it will indicate where
that location is in the heading information.
2
Pinpoint the time range in the heading to better interpret the data. Every wind rose covers a specific period
of time, which differs from diagram to diagram. Find the date or time range listed on the diagram to see how
much time the data covers. Check the title first, as that's where it's most likely to be.
 Often, it's listed as dates, such as March 19, 2018 to March 25, 2018. It can also cover much longer
periods, such as 30 years or more.
 Sometimes, it may just cover a 24-hour period.
3
Identify the units for wind speed used on the diagram by checking the provided key. Find the square box
within the larger diagram. It will have colored boxes and wind speeds listed next to it. These colors correspond
to the colors on the spokes to tell you the wind speed. Check the unit to see if it's given in mph or kph.
 In some cases, the key will give you extra information that you can use. For instance, it may tell you
what percentage of time the winds are calm without you having to calculate it. It will also give you
any units for the diagram you may be missing.

4
Find the units on each circle to understand how the data is presented. Each wind rose has a set of concentric
circles. The circles represent how long the wind blew at certain speeds. Most often, the numbers are presented as
percentages of the overall time, but sometimes, they are presented as hours or days.
 Typically, the circles themselves are marked with the percentage or number of hours.

2
Method

Establishing Wind Direction, Speed, and Frequency

1
Read the wind rose like a compass to determine wind direction. Wind roses are set up in a circle, just like a
compass. When looking at one, the top represents north, the right represents east, the left west, and the bottom
south. As a "spoke" extends along one of these directions, that indicates the wind was blowing from that
direction, not toward it.
 For example, a spoke may extend upward toward the north, though it will be shaped like an arrow
pointing toward the middle of the circle. In that case, the wind is blowing from the north toward the
south.
 Some wheels just use 8 directions, north, south, east, west, northeast, northwest, southeast, and
southwest. However, many use 16, adding north-northeast, east-northeast, and so on.

2
Match the colors on each spoke to the key to determine how fast the wind gusted. Each spoke is divided
into sections made up of different colors. The end of the spoke represents the fastest speeds, while the central
point is the lowest. By checking it against the key, establish what speeds the wind blew at from that direction
during the given time period, beginning with central point and working your way outward.
 For instance, you may notice one spoke is green at the center and red at the end. After checking the
key, you discover the green means the wind blew from 0 to 10 miles (16 km) and red means the wind
gusted up to 40 to 45 miles (64 to 72 km) per hour. That means that within the given time period, the
wind blew at speeds of 0 to 45 miles (72 km) per hour from that specific direction.
3
Establish how long the wind blew at different speeds by examining the rings. As you move out from the
center, the rings act like a tape measure. Each ring is marked with a different percentage or period of time. As
you look at the spokes, use the rings to measure the length of each color-coded section. The length, based on the
ring's measurements, tells you how long the wind blew at that speed.
 For instance, if the color is purple, indicating on your particular map that it blew from the north at 15
to 25 miles (24 to 40 km) per hour, see where the color begins and ends along the rings within the
spoke.
 If the purple area along the spoke starts at a smaller ring (10 percent according to the label) and ends
at a larger ring (24 percent according to the label), then subtract 10 from 24, as that tells you what
percentage of time the wind blew at that speed and direction, 14 percent.
 Usually, the central circle indicates calm conditions.
4
Calculate the percentage of time the wind blew at a certain speed. If you need to know how long the wind
was at each speed, you can use the date(s) listed and the percentage you calculated from the spoke and rings to
figure it out. Figure out how many hours or days the study covers by adding up the time between the dates or
hours given, then calculate the percentage of that time period using the percentage from the previous step.
 For instance, say the study was over 16 days, from April 1st to April 16th. You noticed that the wind
blew from the north at 15 to 25 miles (24 to 40 km) 14 percent of the time. Multiple the number of
days by the percentage and then divide by 100: 16 x 14 = 224, 224 / 100 = 2.24 days.
 Some wind roses will have the circles already marked in days or hours so you don't have to calculate
this number. Instead, just look at the numbers on the wheel and subtract them as you did with the
percentage.
 For instance, maybe the largest circle is 30 hours and the next one is 20.
 If the color representing 30 to 35 miles (48 to 56 km) per hour moves from about halfway
between the 2 circles (indicating 25 hours) to the 30 circle, then the wind spent 5 hours of
time at this speed from that particular direction, as you subtract 25 from 30 hours.

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