halfwinds
Halfwinds are winds whose origin lies roughly halfway between two defined directional sectors, a term encountered in informal meteorology and sailing lore. The concept is not part of standard meteorological nomenclature, but in practical use it describes wind that does not conform to a single prevailing orientation and instead shifts toward a midway direction, commonly about 45 degrees from the dominant wind. This halfway orientation can arise in coastal environments where sea breezes interact with inland circulations, or during transitional weather patterns when a second pressure system begins to influence the area.
In sailing, halfwinds historically referred to a point of sail that sits halfway between a beam reach
Measurement and analysis: Meteorologists use wind vanes, anemometers, and wind roses to identify halffwind sectors. Direction
Limitations: The term is informal and not standardized; different observers may define the halfway point differently.
See also: wind direction, wind rose, prevailing wind, crosswind, sailing terms.