Seeing the Wind: How to predict the wind for landing your paraglider
Wind on Water
You can spot wind on a lake or pond by observing changes in the water's color and texture, which reveal the wind's strength and direction. The key is to look for ripples, streaks, and other surface disturbances, rather than relying on larger waves.
How to spot wind strength
Glassy surface: If the water is perfectly smooth and has a high-quality reflection, there is little to no wind.
Light ripples: A gentle breeze creates small, uniform ripples, or "cat's paws," across the water. You will see these shimmering patches moving, which indicate areas with more wind pressure.
Darkened water: Ripples break up the reflection of the sky, making the surface of the water appear darker. The darker the water, the stronger the wind and the more texture it has.
Whitecaps: When the wind speed reaches approximately 12 knots (13–14 mph), waves will begin to develop white, frothy crests. More whitecaps indicate stronger wind.
Streaks or foam lines: Stronger winds create visible streaks or lines of foam and bubbles on the water's surface that align with the wind's direction
How to determine wind direction
Ripples: The direction the ripples are moving across the water is the direction of the wind. A set of ripples will have a rounded side facing the wind and a steeper side downwind.
Fetch: Look for the areas of the lake or pond with the calmest water. Wind travels across the water from the windward side, causing ripples and texture on the far side. By identifying the roughest and calmest areas, you can see which direction the wind is blowing from.
Floating debris: Observe the movement of surface items like leaves, twigs, or foam. They will drift in the direction the wind is traveling.
Shoreline clues: Look for other nearby indicators of wind direction, such as flags, smoke from a chimney, or how the trees are swaying. Compare these clues with what you see on the water's surface.
Besides water, what other natural indicators show wind direction and speed?
Other natural indicators of wind direction and speed besides water include smoke, vegetation, and your own physical senses. Observing these elements can help you gauge conditions when you don't have access to instruments like a windsock or anemometer.
Smoke and airborne particles
Direction: Smoke from a chimney, fires, or burning sugarcane fields, which are unique to Colombia, are great indicators of the winds and will drift in the direction the wind is blowing. The source of dust being kicked up, such as on a dirt road or the plowing of a field, can also indicate the wind's direction.
Speed: In calm conditions, smoke and dust rises vertically. As wind speed increases, the smoke trail becomes more horizontal. A strong wind may blow smoke out almost parallel to the ground.
Vegetation
The way plants and trees move provides a reliable gauge of wind conditions.
Leaves and small plants:
Calm (0–1 mph): Leaves do not move.
Light Air (1–3 mph): Leaves begin to rustle gently.
Light Breeze (4–7 mph): Leaves and twigs are in constant motion.
It’s important to remember that the underside of leaves will be exposed as the wind increases, show a different lighter color.
Branches and trees:
Gentle Breeze (8–12 mph): Small branches and twigs are in constant motion.
Moderate Breeze (13–18 mph): Small branches begin to move.
Fresh Breeze (19–24 mph): Whole trees begin to sway.
Persistent shaping: Over many years, prevailing winds can shape the crowns of exposed trees so that they appear "combed" or lean away from the dominant wind direction.
Other Clues
Obviously watching other paragliders that are landing. Most pilots land into wind. Confirm by watching the direction the wing falls after touchdown.”
Like us birds tend to land facing the wind.
Many fields may have streamers in them also.
Watching your ground speed on your instrument as you scope out the conditions of the field.
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