Sounding Data » Wind Staff Description

Wind is plotted using the conventional wind plot model.
Wind speed is specified in knots using barbs and flags on the staff: each flag counts 50 knots, each full barb counts 10 knots, and each half barb counts 5 knots. For example, three full barbs and one half barb represents 35 knots, while one flag, one full barb, and one half barb represents 65 knots.
The end of the staff where the barbs or flags are located marks the direction from which the wind is coming. For example, a horizontal staff with flags and barbs on its left side pointing up (as is the case for most of the wind staffs plotted on this example) signifies a wind coming from the west.
Winds are plotted in black at individual levels along a separate axis, the wind staff, on the right side of the skew-T. The wind staff shows the particular height or pressure level at which the wind is reported.