How to Read Wind Barbs: Understanding the New Aviation Forecast in Ventusky
Weather isn't the same at every altitude. While conditions on the ground may seem calm, just a few thousand feet higher the wind can be twice as strong, temperatures can drop below freezing, and cloud layers can completely change the flying conditions. That's why the new Aviation forecast in Ventusky app for iOS and Android doesn't only show surface weather. It visualizes the entire atmosphere (from 500 meters up to FL400) making it easy to understand how conditions change with height.
One of the most distinctive features of the new forecast is the use of wind barbs. Although they may look unfamiliar at first, they are the international standard used by pilots and meteorologists around the world because they communicate both wind direction and wind speed at a glance. The main shaft shows where the wind is coming from. Small feathers attached to the shaft indicate the wind speed: a short barb equals 5 knots, a long barb 10 knots, and a filled triangle 50 knots. The values are simply added together, allowing experienced pilots to interpret the wind almost instantly.
Another advantage of the vertical profile is that it makes atmospheric trends immediately visible. Instead of comparing several separate weather products, pilots can see how wind, temperature, and cloud conditions evolve from the surface to cruising altitude throughout the day. Rapid changes in wind speed or direction may indicate wind shear, while the temperature profile helps identify the freezing level and potential icing conditions.
The Aviation forecast includes much more than wind. Cloud cover is divided into low, middle, and high layers, while cloud base, visibility, pressure, and additional parameters such as CAPE can be displayed on the following rows. Users can customize the forecast by adding or removing weather parameters, creating a view tailored to VFR flying, gliding, drone operations, or general aviation.
Together with interactive weather maps, radar, satellite imagery, lightning detection, official weather warnings, and multiple forecast models, the Aviation view provides a comprehensive picture of the atmosphere before every flight. Rather than replacing official aviation briefings, TAFs, or NOTAMs, it helps pilots quickly understand weather patterns and identify potential hazards before consulting official sources.
Whether you're flying a light aircraft, glider, paraglider, or drone, understanding the weather above the ground is just as important as knowing the conditions at the surface. The new Aviation forecast in Ventusky brings that information together in a clear, intuitive timeline, making it easier than ever to visualize the atmosphere from the ground all the way to FL400.
