What's the meaning of Variable wind?

Question

I had this phase on a test and I thought that it meant shifting wind, but someone told me that it means chilling. What's the meaning Variable wind?

Answer 1

What you had was was correct. Variable means wind can come from any direction or be constantly shifting or can be at times dead calm too.

Some additional information:
When do forecasters predict variable winds? This term is use most often with the follow weather situation.
1. When winds are expected to be light...usually under at or below 7 mph...they tend to shift often from the direction the blow from or be dead calm.
2. When there are thunderstorms near your area. Winds near thunderstorms can be strong and very unpredictable as to what direction they may be coming from.

Answer 2

Wind velocity is a vector; it has both speed and direction. Variable means the speed, direction, or both are continually changing...variable.

Most often, weather guessers use the term "light and variable." This means the speed of the wind is low to nothing, and when there is some speed, the wind's direction is continually changing.

There is something called wind-chill. This refers to how cold it feels to anyone standing outside in the wind. Because of increased evaporation rate as wind speeds increase, someone in that wind will feel colder than the thermometer indicates.

For example, if the thermometer shows 50 deg F, it might feel like 40 deg F if the wind is strong enough across your skin. In some weather forecasts, you will see "Feels like..." and some temperature is given. This is the wind-chill temperature as opposed to the real temperature. In my earlier example, you'd see "Feels like 40 deg F."

Answer 3

Variable wind means that the wind's direction is not steady.This happens when the speed is very less.Usually the wind speed is expressed in knots.When the speed is 1 or 2 knots,the windwane which gives the direction of wind will not be showing any particular direction .Instead it will be oscillating or showing all directions as it will not be able to record the direction when the wind is so light.

Answer 4

variable winds means that the wind is constantly changing direction. One second it will be blowing from the southeast, then the next minute it will be blowing from the southwest. etc. The wind doesn't stay in one direction

Answer 5

Variable means it's not from a definite direction. Its shifting or swirling.

It's not chilling.