Can anyone explain to me , how to understand the definition of wind directions?

Question

for example,if someone told you it was a wnw wind, or west north west wind. does that mean it's coming from the west blowing towards the east , (south??) or is it blowing from the east to the west? know what i mean? and how do you explain the vertical winds with the horizontal winds??thrown in with the horizontal winds, west and east?

Answer 1

Wind direction defies understanding, but it is ALWAYS the direction from which the wind comes.  Vertical winds or wind components are called updrafts and downdrafts, but, in this case, updrafts go up and downdrafts go down.  A WNW wind means that if you face a direction between West and Northwest (292° by compass) you will feel the wind on your face.

Edit:

"If you're not confused, you simply don't understand the situation!" - Anon.

Answer 2

sorry ,, i have no idea wht it is

Answer 3

A weather forecaster here, and the folks are correct that state that winds are described as the direction they are coming FROM.

I am not completely clear on you verticle wind question, however. Verticle winds may be due to convective updrafts/downdrafts, such as a downburst (microburst) from a collapsing thunderstorm. Those types of events will take over your wind situation when they happen- variable directions with very high speeds - but that is an extremely small scale and short lived event. Clarify your question if you are confused by my answer.

Answer 4

Turbulence is the mix of wind directions you describe.  The way to determine the wind direction is this...  the direction the wind is blowing FROM.  the only thing you should be concerned with is where it is coming from because when it is past you it is of no consequence to you.

Answer 5

The name of the wind is usually is where the winds are coming from.

North wind = winds are coming towards you from the north and heading south.  If you turn and standing facing the North, the winds will be blowing right into your face.

Southeast winds = winds are coming from the southeast and are heading northwest.  If you turn with your face looking towards the southeast, the winds will be hitting you right in the face.

Sea Breeze = winds are coming from the sea and heading inland.  If you turn and face the open waters of the sea, the wind will be hitting you right in the face.

Delta Breeze = winds are moving in from the delta.

Ocean Breeze = winds are coming of the ocean and moving inland.

Down canyon winds = winds blowing blowing through the canyon and moving into the river valley.

For vertical winds....terms used for air, air mass, or wind moving upwards include the following...

lifting, ascending, updraft, rising, mixing upwards, up slope

terms for moving dowards include the following...

sinking, decending, downdraft, subsidence. mixing downward, down draft, down slope

For horizontal winds that are light or for no movement:  the common terms used are...

light, light and variable, calm , still

For vertical winds that are not moving up or down, we use the term .... stable with little or no mixing

For a combination of sinking air and air moving from the northeast to southwest, I may use this phrase in my forecast discussion...

Northeast flow under an area of strong subsidence

There are a few exceptions to this rule, othwise the horizontal wind name rule will be the name of the wind is where the winds are blowing from.  (Or if this helps any, if you face the direction of the name of the wind, it will be blowing smack right into your face!)  

Just for fun and to help you remember this rule...If your name is Ann and everytime you open the door, we would get a gust of wind coming from your home.  If I follow this rule, I may call it the "The Ann Resident wind".   Hope all this will help you understand where the wind is blowing from.