Average and peak describe different aspects
Sustained wind summarises speed over an interval defined by the weather product. A gust is a short increase and can be considerably stronger than the averaged value.
Units matter too: kilometres per hour, metres per second and knots cannot be compared without conversion. Meteo Interactive displays the unit attached to the received value.
Terrain and exposure change the wind you experience
Ridges, valleys, coasts, buildings and vegetation can accelerate, redirect or shelter the flow. An exposed point and a sheltered street may therefore experience very different conditions within the same forecast grid cell.
Wind direction states where the wind comes from. Reading direction, average speed and gusts together helps identify which slopes or routes may be more exposed.
Before an outdoor activity
Check the hourly trend rather than only the current value, and consider the maximum forecast gust during the activity. Use an additional safety margin when the location is exposed.
For navigation, mountain activities, aviation, work at height or other risk-sensitive situations, use specialist services and official warnings. A general forecast does not replace operating procedures or limits.
Sources and method
Practical example on Meteo Interactive
In a city panel, “Wind” is the forecast average wind; do not read it as a gust unless a gust is explicitly labelled.
This guide is explanatory content kept separate from operational weather data. It was checked against the public sources listed below and against the labels, units and times actually shown on the site. The review checks clarity, consistency and the distinction between observations, forecasts and official warnings; the text is updated when a source or the interface changes.
If you find an error or an outdated reference, report it to the editorial team.
Forecasts describe likely scenarios and do not replace alerts or official authority communications.