Adjusting to the nuances of wind apps can be a challenge when one first starts out in water sports. However, as people become more and more captivated by the realms of wind or waves, tools like Windguru often become integrated into their daily routines. For those who participate in year-round sailing or surfing, these apps can even become essential resources that are consulted daily.
In this article we are going to teach you step by step How to read and interpret Windguru.
What is Windguru's purpose?
Windguru is the leading web application for providing global wind and wave forecasts. To start, it is important to note that Windguru serves as a complementary resource for your boating activities, providing easy-to-use forecast, guidance and additional assistance. While it may not achieve complete accuracy, it offers a reasonably reliable approximation that helps significantly in planning your kite and wave sessions. Learn to interpret extended forecasts can be of great help to plan more precisely.
Since it provides reliable wind and wave forecasts, Windguru can be said to be beneficial for several sports, particularly those involving open water sailing.
What is the working mechanism of Windguru?
The operation of the website or application is very simple, just enter the place or beach where the planned activity will take place, which allows us to quickly obtain a weather forecast for the next seven days. For further information on interpreting these forecasts, we recommend consulting our . As with any wind-related weather forecasting app or website, it's highly unlikely that these predictions will remain accurate over the course of a week. It is advisable to rely on the weather forecast for the next day, which has a 90% accuracy rate.
As time goes on, the percentage decreases, as forecasts can vary in accuracy, but it is also possible for circumstances to change completely. It is advisable to keep an eye on the Internet daily and formulate short-term strategies to take advantage of favorable waves or winds.
Windguru provides reliable forecasts of wind direction, intensity and gusts. For precise information on the prevailing winds in a particular area, please refer to the sections of the tables provided.
How to analyze tables
When we want to obtain information, the following parameters of the tables are analyzed:
- Wind speed: refers to the speed, measured in knots, at which the wind is approaching a specific area. For those who are not familiar with knot measurement, it is important to note that 1 knot is equal to 1,852 km/h. There is no need to worry, with time and practice you will get used to this measurement.
- Bursts: They refer to the instantaneous wind speed that can be reached at a given time during a short gust. These gusts represent sudden fluctuations in wind speed that last for several seconds and lead to an increase in wind intensity.
- Direction of the wind: The arrows ⇐⇑⇒ indicate the direction of the wind. The tip of each arrow constantly indicates the direction in which the wind is moving. It is important to note that when kitesurfing, the wind should be directed towards the land and never towards the open sea.
- Windguru Rating: Wind levels are estimated using a star system. A one-star rating indicates that it is possible to ride with large kites (11-18 m). With two stars, the kite session is likely to be quite pleasant, while three stars suggest the need to use smaller kites (5-8 m). When the stars appear blue, it means that the temperature is below 9°C, which requires the use of a wetsuit with considerable thickness.
Understanding wind direction is simple, since the arrows indicate their pathTo determine the actual orientation of the beach in question, simply adjust the arrow corresponding to the desired time and transpose it onto a scaled map. In addition, by clicking with the mouse or touching the screen of a smartphone on the wind speed, a detailed map can be accessed.
The map presents the colors and direction of the wind as indicated by Windguru tables. By looking at the orientation of the arrows shown in the tables, you can easily determine the direction from which the wind is blowing and the specific areas of the coast affected by it. On the arrows, Each direction means the path of the wind and its origin.
Atmospheric temperature, cloudiness and precipitation levels
Each hour of the day features a specific temperature. In addition, the forecast map below illustrates the percentage of cloud cover, indicating a slight chance of rain at 7 pm with expected precipitation of 0,1 liters per square meter. To understand how these factors can affect water activities, it's essential to check precipitation and temperature forecasts.
It is essential to take this information into account when considering the possibility of rain. A volume of 1,0 litres indicates a strong probability of precipitation, so it is advisable to take this into account when making preparations.
The waves at Windguru
- Wave: Indicates the height that the waves will reach, measured from sea level.
- Wave period: refers to the duration, measured in seconds, that elapses between the arrival of consecutive waves; in the context of surfing, it is the interval from the passage of a wave until the next wave reaches the same point.
- Wave direction: Similar to the indication of wind direction, the arrows also indicate the path that waves will follow as they approach the coast.
To learn more about the interpretation of waves and their influence on surfing or kitesurfing, please visit our specialized guide in wave forecastingWindguru provides multiple tables for the same location, which can sometimes be confusing for those unfamiliar with interpreting wind forecasts.
The important starting point you need to recognize is:
- The data presented in Windguru is updated approximately every six hours.
- Always check for the latest update