Wind map
The lines flow with the wind 10 metres above the ground and the background colour shows its speed. Check the wind before sailing, flying a drone, cycling or a walk by the sea.
ECMWF · CC BY 4.0
You can switch wind speed between km/h, m/s, knots and mph. Click the map to see the direction too, meaning where the wind comes from, for example from the south-west.
Wind is strongest over the oceans and around the edges of low-pressure systems. Over land, mountains, forests and buildings slow it down, so it is often weaker than on the map, while gusts can briefly be much stronger.
Other map layers
FAQ
What do the colours on the wind map mean?
From navy (calm and light wind) through green and yellow (moderate to fresh) to red and purple (gale and hurricane force). The legend under the map shows exact values.
At what height is this wind?
10 metres above the ground, the standard height used by weather stations. Higher up, on mountain tops for example, it usually blows harder.
Does the map show wind gusts?
No. It shows the mean wind. Gusts, the short bursts of wind, are often 30-50% stronger, and even more during thunderstorms.
Where the data comes from
The forecast is computed by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) and published as open data under the CC BY 4.0 licence. A new model run arrives 4 times a day and the map picks it up automatically.
We reduce the model grid from 0.25° to 0.5°, roughly 55 km, so the map loads quickly on a phone too. That is why it shows weather systems well, while very local details, like a storm over a single town, can get smoothed out.
This service is based on data and products of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). Source: www.ecmwf.int. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Data modified (resampled to 0.5°, smoothed, rounded to 8-bit values). ECMWF does not accept any liability whatsoever for any error or omission in the data, their availability, or for any loss or damage arising from their use. Map: OpenFreeMap © OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap contributors.