Naming Winds

I reat a previous question: Your definition of on shore off shore winds makes no sense. If winds are designated by where they originate then off shore winds would originate off shore and blow towards the shore ?????????

Bob McClure

Hi Bob,

I apologize if my original explanation was not clear.

An offshore wind is the direction a land breeze blows.  A land breeze develops over land and flows offshore to to the ocean.  The opposite is true for an ocean breeze.  This breeze develops over the ocean and blows onshore to land.

It has been my experience, in order to minimize confusion, to use onshore and offshore more than sea breeze and ocean breeze.  Saying north, south, east, and west wind creates the same confusion.  That's why you'll see me say the wind is blowing from north today instead of, we have a northerly wind.

My best,

Mike