Wind Adjustment Worksheet

Use the Worksheet below to calculate midflame wind speeds (Taken from NWCG Fireline Handbook Appendix B)

 

Input

Line A: 20-FT Windspeed, mi/h______

Line B: Wind Adjustment factor (Use the table at the bottom of the page)__________

 

Output

Line A X Line B = Midflame windspeed

 

Example: You have a 20-ft windspeed of 25 miles per hour, in unsheltered fuels and a fuel model 4. Based on this, the wind adjustment factor would be 0.5.

25 x 0.5 = 12.5 miles per hour midflame windspeed.

 

Adjustment factors for differing fuel exposures and fuel models.
Fuel Exposure Fuel Model (1-13) Adjustment Factor
Unsheltered Fuels: Fuel exposed directly to the wind. No or sparse overstory. Fuel beneath timber that has lost its foliage; fuel beneath timber near clearings or clearcuts; fuel on high ridges where trees offer little shelter from the wind.

4, 13

 

0.5
Unsheltered Fuels 1,3,5,6,11,12, (2,7)1, (8,9,10)2 0.4
Partially Sheltered Fuels: Fuel beneath patchy timber where it is not well sheltered; fuel beneath standing timber at midslope or higher on a mountain with wind blowing directly at a slope. All Fuel Models 0.3
Fully Sheltered Fuels: Fuel sheltered beneath standing timber on flat or gentle slope or near base of mountain with steep slopes. All Fuel Models

Open Stands

0.2

Dense Stands

0.1

1 Fuels usually partially sheltered

2 Fuels usually fully sheltered