Models that work best are ones that use power directly from its source. Battery powered openers have difficulty operating in cold weather. The Estate swing E-S 1600/02 are examples of direct power gate openers. However these gate openers need to be located closer to their power supply that battery powered gate openers. As for the wind question, all modern day gate openers need to recognize when they hit something, a car, a person or a burst of wind, they only know that something is holding them back and they will reverse. Dual gates are 1/2 the surface area and also 1/2 the leverage of single gates, they are best for windy conditions.