It is a perplexing paradox that while most ab-initio and early solo pilots rapidly learn to parrot phrases such as "that looks like a good cloud" or "I think tomorrow may be a good day", they frequently position their circuits according to last week's wind-strength, or seem quite oblivious to the fact that an enormous slate-grey cloud dropping floods of water two miles away may make it dangerous to fly.
This is probably because they haven't yet seen enough crashes to deprive them of their innocent trust in the benevolence of Nature. Alternatively, it may be because they have so much else to think about that these less immediate concerns get shut out of the mind.
Whatever the reason, it is as well to train oneself to observe the weather in the local area, and keep a constant watch on it, because it may change with surprising swiftness.
One way of training yourself is to keep a log in a small note-book. Every time you come to the airfield, note the wind-direction and strength, and also make a note of what approach speed you would use.
As one very experienced club-member once said: "If you get up in the morning and you do not know which way the wind is blowing, you are not a pilot."