This article was co-authored by Bess Ruff, MA. Bess Ruff is a Geography PhD student at Florida State University. She received her MA in Environmental Science and Management from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2016. She has conducted survey work for marine spatial planning projects in the Caribbean and provided research support as a graduate fellow for the Sustainable Fisheries Group.
This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.
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Wind barbs are simple visual presentations of wind speed from a given direction. Use this tool to figure out which way the wind is blowing, and at what speed. Meteorologists use these simple diagrams to interpret the current weather, to predict future conditions, and to communicate changing trends to the public. In order to read wind barbs, you'll need to learn what the various lines and measurements mean.