Windefh

Windefh is a localized, transient wind phenomenon described in coastal meteorology. It consists of a sharp gust front and a rapid, often veering, change in surface wind direction, typically lasting from a few minutes to about half an hour. The term reflects a deflection of the prevailing wind as the sea-breeze front interacts with a preexisting boundary-layer flow.

Formation and characteristics: Windefh arises when a shallow sea-breeze front encounters an ambient wind that strengthens with height, creating horizontal pressure gradients and convergence at the surface. This leads to a rapid acceleration of low-level air and a brief, fan-shaped gust front that can produce gusts well above the background wind. The event often occurs during spring or autumn when sea-breeze activity is vigorous and synoptic winds are moderate.

Geographic distribution and seasonality: Windefh has been documented along Atlantic-facing coasts and other temperate maritime regions, where interactions between sea-breeze circulations and larger-scale winds are common. It is more frequent in areas with strong diurnal heating and pronounced coastal contrast, and less common in arid or unusually stable environments.

Implications and observation: Windefh can affect coastal operations, aviation, and wind energy forecasts due to sudden changes in wind speed and direction across short distances. It is monitored using Doppler radar, surface weather stations, and wind-profile instruments, and is represented in high-resolution mesoscale models to aid short-term forecasting.

See also: sea-breeze, gust front, coastal meteorology.