About Weather Wane

What is Weather Wane?

Weather Wane is a specialized weather monitoring application designed for sailors, windsurfers, kitesurfers, and maritime enthusiasts. It provides real-time and historical weather data collected directly from Reykjavík Airport (BIRK) in Iceland.

The app focuses on wind conditions, pressure trends, and sea state information—critical factors for sailing conditions, maritime navigation, and windsports.

Data Sources

Data is collected from multiple weather sensors located at BIRK (Reykjavík Airport, Iceland):

  • Runway Sensor Arrays — Wind speed and direction from four runway threshold locations
  • Temperature & Pressure — Air temperature and QNH (barometric) pressure
  • Sea Level — Real-time measurements from Harpan Harbour (Reykjavík Old Harbour)

Data is updated every 30 seconds and stored for historical analysis. All measurements use standard meteorological units (knots for wind speed, degrees for direction, Celsius for temperature, hPa for pressure).

Understanding the Visualizations

  • Wind Speed — Shows average wind speed over time with gust (max) and lull (min) bands. Wider bands indicate more variable, gusty conditions.
  • Wind Chill — Combines air temperature and wind speed to show how cold it actually feels on exposed skin.
  • Wind Direction — Displays wind direction in degrees (0°/360° = North, 90° = East, 180° = South, 270° = West). Useful for spotting shifts and backing/veering patterns.
  • Wind Rose — A compass plot showing the frequency of wind from each direction and average speed per sector.
  • Wind Map — Geographic visualization of wind patterns across the airport's runway systems.
  • Pressure Trend — QNH (barometric) pressure indicates incoming weather. A sustained drop signals deteriorating conditions; a rise indicates improvement. Even 3–5 hPa changes over hours are meaningful.
  • Sea Level — Real-time measurements at Harpan Harbour showing harbor water height relative to the reference point.

Time Range Controls

Use the slider or preset buttons to view data from the last 6 hours, 24 hours, 3 days, or 7 days. The app automatically adjusts the chart resolution to show the most relevant details for each time window.

Who Should Use This?

  • Sailors & Sailors — Monitor real-time wind conditions for sailing and racing
  • Windsports Enthusiasts — Windsurfers and kitesurfers planning sessions
  • Mariners — Track wind and sea state for safe navigation
  • Weather Enthusiasts — Analyze detailed weather trends and patterns
  • Pilots & Aircrew — Reference for conditions at BIRK

Features

  • Live data updated every 30 seconds
  • Dark mode for reduced eye strain
  • Interactive charts with customizable time ranges
  • Multi-sensor wind data from runway locations
  • Historical data storage and analysis
  • Wind rose and directional analysis
  • Pressure trend tracking
  • Sea level monitoring

Getting Started

Head to the main page to start exploring live weather data. Use the time slider to examine historical trends, or focus on the current conditions with the latest data point.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why only BIRK?

BIRK (Reykjavík Airport) has comprehensive weather infrastructure and is strategically located for monitoring Reykjavík's sailing and maritime conditions. Future versions may expand to other locations.

Is this official BIRK data?

This app displays data collected from sensors at BIRK. For official weather reports, consult the Icelandic Meteorological Office.

How accurate is the wind data?

Data is sourced directly from BIRK's automated weather station equipment. Accuracy depends on sensor maintenance and calibration. For mission-critical decisions, always consult official sources.

Can I download the data?

Currently, the app displays data in-browser. Contact for information on data export options.

Contact

Have questions or feedback? Reach out to contact@sigurdurhaukur.com

Disclaimer

Weather Wane is provided as-is for informational purposes. While we strive for accuracy, we make no guarantees about data completeness or real-time availability. Do not rely solely on this app for safety-critical decisions. Always consult official aviation, maritime, and meteorological sources before making important decisions.