Weather historical stats needed

[Bill Thiers]

Anyone know of a data source for wind direction & speed? Want to get data on the predominant wind speed & direction on coastal South Carolina. But also want to see what other than predominant occurs. Like to do my own statistical analysis of odds of getting wind in my teeth up and down the coast. Have not been able to find data archives on the web, with a few hours of serious searching. Help with sources appreciated.

 

[Miles]

Source Ideas...

A good source would be the "United States Coast Pilot" for your area (I think you're in area #4). It's a big book with all kinds of info including winds speeds, directions, water temp, swell height, etc. Broken down by month and averaged over years and years. Also has info on navigation, ports, etc. A good reference book, can probably get a copy at West Marine if the Chandlery here doesn't have one. Also you local NWS office web site may have some data you can download...

 

[Rob Rich]

Direction - Weird but true... runways

This only helps sailors for coastal locations, but airport runways are built to face into the predominant wind. They have a magnetic heading, so runway 24 faces southwest (240 degrees), indicating the direction of the most predominant direction of wind. Not nearly as much help as a book full of data, but may help you fill in the gaps if you can't find data anywhere else.Best Regards, Rob

 

[Ed Schenck]

NDBC Site.

There is a lot of info, current and historical, on the National Data Buoy Center site. The link below is for a buoy off Virginia Beach. But if you back off to the main site you may find a weather buoy closer to your area of interest. Go to the bottom of any buoy site for the historical links.

 

[Bob McGee]

Check with local airport, or ...

contact the National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C. Tel: (828)271-4800. Every Airport Master Plan includes an All Weather Wind Rose, which is a depiction of wind direction and wind speed using many thousands of historical observations. Its purpose is to determine, or verify, that an airport's runway layout and orientation is optimal. Bill Ray is (or was) the Airport Director at Hilton Head Airport. He should be able to provide you a copy of his Wind Rose and explain how to interpret it. Good luck.