Wind forecast — how to read it

The wind map shows forecast wind speed and direction at four altitudes: surface (10 m), 850 hPa (~5,000 ft), 700 hPa (~10,000 ft), and 500 hPa (~18,000 ft). Switch layers with the selector above the legend.

Reading wind barbs

Each barb shows two things at once:

• Direction: the barb points into the wind — a barb pointing north is wind from the north.
• Speed: counted from the little lines on the tail.
  • Short line = 5 kt
  • Long line = 10 kt
  • Filled triangle = 50 kt

A barb with two long lines and one short line = 25 kt. Two triangles plus a long line = 110 kt.

Color intensity reinforces the speed — deeper blue / purple means stronger wind at that layer. It's for at-a-glance scanning; use the barb count for the actual number.

Decision 1 — crosswind at destination

Look at the surface layer. Combine the wind direction with the runway orientation at your destination. ClearToFly's per-airfield meteogram does this calculation for you automatically and shows crosswind per runway.

Decision 2 — cruise altitude selection

Switch between the 850 hPa (~5,000 ft) and 700 hPa (~10,000 ft) layers. If the tailwind is stronger higher up and the terrain and ceiling allow it, climbing pays. ClearToFly's cross-section has a head/tailwind analysis table that scores every leg × altitude combination automatically.

Decision 3 — wind shear between layers

Model caveats

ICON-D2 resolves ridge/valley wind acceleration reasonably well at 2.1 km, but it will still under-forecast local peaks near terrain (rotor zones, mountain waves). For flying near the Alps or the Erzgebirge, always combine the wind map with a cross-section and local knowledge.