what is a weather vane

A weather vane (also called a wind vane or weathervane) is a simple instrument mounted outdoors that spins to show the direction the wind is coming from.

Quick Scoop

• It usually looks like an arrow or decorative shape on a vertical rod on top of a roof, barn, or pole.

• When the wind blows, the tail catches the wind and the pointer turns to face the direction the wind is coming from (for example, pointing north means a north wind).

• It does not measure wind speed, only wind direction.

• Today many weather vanes are mostly decorative, but they are still used at farms, homes, and some weather stations to help read local wind patterns.

A tiny “story” example

Imagine a farmhouse with a rooster-shaped weather vane on the roof. On a chilly morning the rooster suddenly swings around to point west. The farmer sees this and knows winds are now blowing in from the west, which might signal a change in weather and the chance of an approaching storm later in the day.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.