Defining wind event by direction (degrees) AND speed!

For my thesis I am measuring wind events. These wind events are defined as "wind, blowing over the threshold of motion (>5.5 meters/second), in a uniform direction (+/- 45 degrees) for x amount of time (duration)." Due to the amount of data I have, I need help writing a program that will help me select out these wind events.

I have hourly wind data for 15 years and need to delineate wind events by speed and direction. Ultimately calculating the duration of each event and then calculating descriptive stats about these "wind events."

So far,
(1) I have filtered out wind speeds above the threshold of motion (>5.5 meters/second).
(2) Calculated a running average of the (previous, x, and proceeding) wind directions (given in degrees).
(3) Subtracted the running averages.
(4) Implemented an "if,then" function that selects when the differences from the running average exceed 45 (because the "uniform" direction is within 45 degrees of the event).

However, this is not working!!!!! I realize that I am going to need a program written to delineate these wind events.

Is there anyone out there willing to help?!?!???

Pulling my hair out,
Swann