+1 on checking your local weather station, but the most reliable ones are the NWS reporting stations. Enter your city and state on the left, and it takes you to a page with your local forecast. Then you can get a point forecast for your house or the site of your ride by going to the map at the bottom of the page and zooming in. Under "Additional Forecasts & Information" you can get an hourly weather graph with wind speed and direction, temperature, chance of precipitation, and lightning activity level for the next 48 hours.

I rarely go for a ride or a paddle without checking the hourly weather graph. It's nice to have an idea when the wind's going to be turning or kicking up. Besides being prepared for it mentally, we usually choose our route so we're coming downwind on the way home if at all possible.