What is the duration over which wind direction and speed should be averaged for reporting?

The standard practice for reporting wind direction and speed is to average the observations over a 2-minute period. This duration strikes a balance between capturing the variability of wind conditions and providing a stable, representative measurement that is useful for aviation and meteorological purposes. Averaging for too short a time, such as 1 minute, could result in values that reflect sudden gusts or brief shifts in wind direction that may not be representative of the overall conditions. Similarly, averaging over longer durations, such as 5 minutes or 10 minutes, could mask significant changes in wind patterns that could impact flight operations. Therefore, a 2-minute averaging period is chosen because it provides a reliable assessment of the wind conditions without being overly sensitive to brief fluctuations.