Why call it a North wind when it is going South?

Question

When we drive or move we state the direction in which we are going not from where we came? Why not do the same for wind? What is the significance of doing it backward for wind?

Answer 1

Because the wind came from the north and that how they forecast it. the origin of the wind is more important than where it's going in determining weather so the originating point is what they use.

Answer 2

Because calling it a North wind tells us where it is coming from. So, in the northern hemisphere, we'd expect a North wind to be cold, and a South wind to be warm. Likewise, if we lived on the East coast of some landmass, we'd expect an East wind to bring moisture, and a West wind to be dry.

Answer 3

Well if you draw an arrow for the direction of the wind, it is going South. It is coming from the North but is flowing South. It's like in the winter, winds from Canada come all the way down to FL.

Answer 4

When wind is coming from the north it's going to cool things in its path. It just wouldn't make sense to call it a south wind (at least in the northern hemisphere) because we associate south with warm. Similarly, if a wind is coming from the south, it will warm things in its path. So, ultimately, we name where the wind is coming from because that is the thing that will determine the effect it will have on the places it crosses.

Answer 5

The north wind comes from the north. So if you are in the northern hemisphere, that means it comes from colder (maybe arctic) climes. The southern wind is likely to be warm and tropical. I think they use the odd-seeming convention to match the name of the wind with the kind of weather it tends to bring.

But ultimately, it's just semantics, so don't let yourself get hung up over it. Just learn to use it and move on.

Answer 6

Its from the north to south.That's how wind direction is measured as.I guess so

Answer 7

comming from north

Answer 8

Wind direction is based on the ORIGINATING direction... not where it is heading.

Answer 9

whatever direction the wind comes from is the name it goes by.

Answer 10

well its coming from the north. if a man from norway decides to move to spain he will be a northern man form the point of view of the spanish ppl duh.