1. What is Average Wind Speed?

Definition: Average wind speed is the mean of multiple wind speed measurements over a specified time period.

Purpose: It helps meteorologists, engineers, and outdoor enthusiasts understand typical wind conditions for forecasting, construction, and activity planning.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( AS \) — Average wind speed (mph)
• \( \Sigma S \) — Sum of all wind speed measurements (mph)
• \( N \) — Number of measurements (unitless)

Explanation: The calculator sums all input wind speeds and divides by the count of measurements to find the average.

3. Importance of Average Wind Speed

Details: Average wind speed is crucial for weather forecasting, wind energy potential assessment, aviation safety, and construction planning.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter comma-separated wind speed values in mph (e.g., "12, 15, 10, 8"). The calculator will ignore any non-numeric values.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What time period should I use for measurements?
A: This depends on your needs - hourly averages for short-term planning, daily for general trends, or monthly for climate studies.

Q2: How many measurements should I include?
A: More measurements give a more accurate average. For most purposes, 10-30 measurements provide good results.

Q3: Should I include calm periods (0 mph)?
A: Yes, for an accurate average, include all measurements including calm periods if they occurred.

Q4: What's the difference between average and gust wind speed?
A: Average speed is the mean over time, while gust speed is the maximum instantaneous speed recorded.

Q5: How does this relate to wind chill calculations?
A: Wind chill typically uses average wind speed over 10 minutes at 5 feet above ground.