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A wind cone, also known as a windsock, is a device that shows wind direction and speed. It is commonly used at airports, highways, and facilities. It consists of a fabric tube that rotates around a pole and extends as wind speed increases. It is easy to read and can be illuminated for night use. Wind cones manufactured to FAA standards fully extend in winds exceeding 17 mph.
A wind cone is a device that provides a visual indication of wind direction and relative wind speed. These devices are installed at airports to provide pilots with information about conditions on the ground so they can take the proper precautions when landing. In addition, wind cones can be placed along high wind areas on a highway to warn drivers of high winds, and can be used at facilities such as chemical plants and refineries where wind speed and direction can be important.
The wind cone consists of a light fabric tube mounted on a pole. The tube is free to rotate around the pole so it can move as the wind changes direction. A light breeze will lift the tube and partially fill it with air, causing it to project from the pole as the end of the tube dangles downward. As the wind picks up, the downward-sloping part of the tube will gradually fill in, extending more and more of the tube. In high winds, the entire wind cone will extend fully at a 90 degree angle from the pole.
Also known as a windsock, a wind cone is usually bright, so it will be highly visible. An illuminated wind cone can be used at night at airports where pilots make night landings. Multiple wind cones will be dispersed around a facility so that people can easily collect information on wind direction and speed when they arrive to land.
Reading a wind cone is relatively easy. The wind is coming from the opposite direction that the wind cone is pointing. For example, if a wind cone points to the East, it means that the wind is coming from the West. If the wind cone is partially extended, it means that the air speed is relatively low. The more extended the cone, the greater the wind. Many cones are marked with rings so that people can clearly see how far the cone extends at any given time.
Wind cones manufactured to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) standards fully extend in winds exceeding 17 miles per hour (28 kilometers per hour or 15 knots). Some people use an anemometer, a device that measures wind speed, to take measurements when wind cones are at various stages of extension to know what speed each stage corresponds to.
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