<p>Yes, the most commonly used distribution for wind speed is the Weibull - at least when it comes to predicting wind speeds at prospective wind farm locations.</p>

<p>Yes, the parameters vary.</p>

<p>See, for example, the book <a href="http://www.wind-energy-the-facts.org/the-annual-variability-of-wind-speed.html" rel="noreferrer">"Wind Energy - The Facts"</a>, the output of an EU research programme (ISBN 9781844077106, also freely available online).</p>

<p>Or Seguro &amp; Lambert's paper <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0167-6105(99)00122-1" rel="noreferrer">Modern estimation of the parameters of the Weibull wind speed distribution for wind energy analysis</a></p>

<p>As a starting point for estimation, it's usual to take $k=2$; this is equivalent to the Rayleigh distribution. However, the Weibull is more generalised, and often provides a better fit (i.e. $k$ isn't exactly 2).</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-03-08T19:22:11.007Z
Let me add some references to this answer: (1) Garcia, A., Torres, J. L., Prieto, E. and De Francisco, A. (1998). Fitting wind speed distributions: A case study. Solar Energy, 62, 139–144.;  (2) Justus, C. G., Hargraves, W. R., Mikhail, A. and Graber, D. (1978). Methods for estimating wind speed frequency distributions. Journal of Applied Meteorology, 17, 350–353.; (3) Celik, A. N. (2004). A statistical analysis of wind power density based on the Weibull and Rayleigh models at the southern region of Turkey. Renewable Energy, 29, 593–604.
user3825755
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-03-08T13:33:23.140Z
2016-03-08T13:33:23.140Z
410 gone
<p>What probability distribution do wind speed measurements typically follow?</p>

<p>I have seen a Weibull distribution used, but the page was a bit lacking on background information so I would appreciate confirmation and a reference, if possible.</p>

<p>If it is a Weibull, are there typical parameters that are used, or can these vary?</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-03-08T00:30:01.627Z
Where was the page where you saw the Weibull distribution?
naught101
<meteorology><wind><statistics>
How are wind speeds typically distributed?
Alex Petzke
# How are wind speeds typically distributed?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-03-07)

What probability distribution do wind speed measurements typically follow?

I have seen a Weibull distribution used, but the page was a bit lacking on background information so I would appreciate confirmation and a reference, if possible.

If it is a Weibull, are there typical parameters that are used, or can these vary?

Thanks.

**Tags:** meteorology, wind, statistics

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Where was the page where you saw the Weibull distribution?  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-03-08. Score: 6

Yes, the most commonly used distribution for wind speed is the Weibull - at least when it comes to predicting wind speeds at prospective wind farm locations.

Yes, the parameters vary.

See, for example, the book ["Wind Energy - The Facts"](http://www.wind-energy-the-facts.org/the-annual-variability-of-wind-speed.html), the output of an EU research programme (ISBN 9781844077106, also freely available online).

Or Seguro & Lambert's paper [Modern estimation of the parameters of the Weibull wind speed distribution for wind energy analysis](http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0167-6105(99)00122-1)

As a starting point for estimation, it's usual to take $k=2$; this is equivalent to the Rayleigh distribution. However, the Weibull is more generalised, and often provides a better fit (i.e. $k$ isn't exactly 2).

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: Let me add some references to this answer: (1) Garcia, A., Torres, J. L., Prieto, E. and De Francisco, A. (1998). Fitting wind speed distributions: A case study. Solar Energy, 62, 139–144.;  (2) Justus, C. G., Hargraves, W. R., Mikhail, A. and Graber, D. (1978). Methods for estimating wind speed frequency distributions. Journal of Applied Meteorology, 17, 350–353.; (3) Celik, A. N. (2004). A statistical analysis of wind power density based on the Weibull and Rayleigh models at the southern region of Turkey. Renewable Energy, 29, 593–604.  

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