Prevailing winds are the wind direction most frequently observed during a given period. A squall is a strong, sudden wind which generally lasts a few minutes then quickly decreases in speed. A gust is a sudden, brief increase in wind speed that generally lasts less than 20 seconds. A chinook is a warm, dry, gusty wind that occasionally occurs to the leeward side of a mountain range, particularly the Rocky Mountains. Jet streams are undulating bands of strong, high-altitude winds, associated with cold fronts.
Pilots often seek out a jet stream to speed their jet planes along.
Windchill expresses the combined effect of wind and air temperature on body heat loss. It feels colder, for example, at -15 Celsius with a strong wind that at the same temperature with no wind. Exposed areas freeze in less than one minute for the average person. This document is published by authority of the Minister of the Environment. Copyright Minister of Supply and Services Canada 1995.