Definition
The combined measurement of wind speed and wind direction at a given location and time. Wind velocity describes how fast the air is moving and which direction it is coming from, typically reported as direction in degrees and speed in knots (for example, 270 at 15 means wind from 270 degrees at 15 knots).
Plain English
How fast the wind is blowing and which way it is coming from, stated together as one piece of information.
Context Anchor
Seen in weather briefings, takeoff and landing planning, and discussions of how wind affects the airplane near the ground.
Derivation
From Latin velocitas, meaning 'swiftness.' In everyday speech 'velocity' is often used as a fancy word for 'speed,' but in physics and aviation it specifically means speed plus direction. That is why wind velocity always includes both numbers.
Why Pilots Care
Accurate knowledge of wind velocity determines runway choice, groundspeed, drift correction, and safe crosswind limits during takeoff and landing.
Grounding Statement
A wind reported as 270 degrees at 15 knots is moving from the west at 15 knots.
Intuition Check
Do not read velocity as speed only. For wind velocity, the direction is part of the meaning, and aviation wind direction tells where the wind is coming from, not where it is going.
Example Sentence 1
The ATIS reported wind velocity as 240 at 12, so the pilot chose Runway 24 for departure.
Example Sentence 2
A change in wind velocity from a headwind to a crosswind required the pilot to adjust the approach path and airspeed.