A prevailing wind is a wind that consistently blows from one direction more than from any other and it will help getting your bearings. The prevailing wind direction is southwest in my area. If you don't know the prevailing wind direction in the area that you are in, you can observe the general pattern of the wind for several days. Then you can usually decide from what compass direction the prevailing winds come. A heavy rain storm or tornadoes will normally come from the same direction. But the prevailing wind is apt to change direction without being noticed. The changing weather will alter the course of winds. Yesterday the winds in my area came from the north, today the wind is coming from the southeast. The prevailing winds are not entirely reliable since wind shifts are common. Because of this, they are used in conjunction with the positions of the sun, moon and other celestial bodies.
