Several kinds of anemometers are used today. The most common kind has three or four cups attached to spokes on a rotating shaft. The spokes turn the shaft as the wind blows. The wind speed is indicated by the speed of the spinning shaft. In many other countries, they are stated in kilometers per hour.
Wind direction is measured with an instrument called a weather vane.
A weather vane has a broad, flat blade attached to a spoke pivoted at one end. Wind blowing on the blade turns the spoke so that the blade lines up in the direction of the wind. The wind direction may be indicated by an arrow fastened to the spoke, or by an electric meter remotely controlled by the vane. Wind directions are often indicated by using the 360 degrees of a circle. On this circle, north is indicated by 0 .