Weather question (USA): 20-foot winds?

[Tuno]

The first time I saw this I thought it was a typo, but for the third
time that I can recall this web page is using the term "Sustained X-
foot winds of Y to Z mph ...":

http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=85222

(Forecast at bottom)

What do 20 feet of wind look like? (Mike the Strike ... ?)

2NO

[Papa3]

On Apr 29, 10:04*am, Tuno > wrote:
> The first time I saw this I thought it was a typo, but for the third
> time that I can recall this web page is using the term "Sustained X-
> foot winds of Y to Z mph ...":
>
> http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=85222
>
> (Forecast at bottom)
>
> What do 20 feet of wind look like? (Mike the Strike ... ?)
>
> 2NO

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tsa/20ftwind_firewx_exp.html

In a nutshell, it's winds at 20ft AGL.

[Mike the Strike]

>
> What do 20 feet of wind look like? (Mike the Strike ... ?)
>
> 2NO

How about the wind speed at 20 feet above the surface of the earth?
Wind speed increases rapidly with height in the bottom layer of the
atmosphere and is usually measured at 30 feet. I assume firefighters
are more interested in wind speeds at tree canopy height? maybe a
firefighter can verify this?

Hopefully you won't be flying that low in Arizona!

Mike