---
title: Does wind direction (parallel vs. perpendicular) impact the ridge vent's performance with an external wind baffle?
description: Externally baffled ridge vents work best with the wind blowing exactly perpendicular to the external baffle, and are at their minimum performance when the wind is parallel.
---

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# Does wind direction (parallel vs. perpendicular) impact the ridge vent's performance with an external wind baffle?

## Externally baffled ridge vents work best with the wind blowing exactly perpendicular to the external baffle, and are at their minimum performance when the wind is parallel.

Externally baffled ridge vents work best with the wind blowing exactly perpendicular to the external baffle, and are at their minimum performance when the wind is parallel. However, the wind is very rarely blowing exactly parallel to the ridge for any length of time. The wind is constantly shifting direction. It does not take much of an angle away from parallel for the perpendicular component of the wind to overcome the parallel. Thus an externally baffled vent will always pull more air than a non-externally baffled vent.

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