Prevailing Wind Direction in Winter?
BassistVince, Fri Jun 26 2020, 09:09AM
Greetings.
Can anyone help answer a winter-time question? In winter months, with regular snowfall and snow drifts, what is the prevailing wind direction on the south side of the lake?
In other words, if you live in a building that is oriented squarely north-south, on which side of the building do you get the largest accumulation of snow drifts each winter? thank you.
I looked for historical weather information of this type, but could not find a definitive answer. I have observed that in summer months, the wind direction seems to come from southwest most of the time, but I do not know if this is common in winter. Thanks.
Re: Prevailing Wind Direction in Winter?
Benny ⭐, Fri Jun 26 2020, 11:18AM
Hey BassistVince!
The predominant wind direction during the winter is from the west, (ie southwest, west or northwest) so your drifts would tend to be on the east side (leeward side).
We do get our Santa Ana's which can flip the flow from the northeast, but that is typically a dry flow without precip.
In the Summer the predominant direction is from the east, but obviously we don't receive snow in the summer.
Hope that helps!
-Ben
Meteorologist
Re: Prevailing Wind Direction in Winter?
BassistVince, Fri Jun 26 2020, 12:27PM
Thank you very much for the helpful and kind information. My question seems oddly specific (in hindsight).
BassistVince, Fri Jun 26 2020, 09:09AM
Greetings.
Can anyone help answer a winter-time question? In winter months, with regular snowfall and snow drifts, what is the prevailing wind direction on the south side of the lake?
In other words, if you live in a building that is oriented squarely north-south, on which side of the building do you get the largest accumulation of snow drifts each winter? thank you.
I looked for historical weather information of this type, but could not find a definitive answer. I have observed that in summer months, the wind direction seems to come from southwest most of the time, but I do not know if this is common in winter. Thanks.
Re: Prevailing Wind Direction in Winter?
Benny ⭐, Fri Jun 26 2020, 11:18AM
Hey BassistVince!
The predominant wind direction during the winter is from the west, (ie southwest, west or northwest) so your drifts would tend to be on the east side (leeward side).
We do get our Santa Ana's which can flip the flow from the northeast, but that is typically a dry flow without precip.
In the Summer the predominant direction is from the east, but obviously we don't receive snow in the summer.
Hope that helps!
-Ben
Meteorologist
Re: Prevailing Wind Direction in Winter?
BassistVince, Fri Jun 26 2020, 12:27PM
Thank you very much for the helpful and kind information. My question seems oddly specific (in hindsight).
