Mean MF-radar prevailing mesospheric wind data over Juliusruh (54.6 ¿N, 13.4 ¿E) for 8 years (1990--1997) have been compared with daytime averaged winds obtained from calculations using the Cologne global three-dimensional dynamic model of the middle atmosphere COMMA. The altitude-seasonal cross section shows that the model reflects the seasonal zonal wind pattern fairly well. The mesospheric summer and especially the winter winds are somewhat weaker in the observations. The model results are better reflected by measurements over Saskatoon (52 ¿N, 107 ¿W). The height of the observed maximum of the summer jet occurs more than 5 km above that one inferred from the model calculations. The long-term averages of the zonal winds will not be significantly changed if the periods with stratospheric warming events, which can lead to short term wind reversals at mesospheric heights during the winter months, are eliminated from the observational basis. The daytime averaged meridional wind component matches the observations over Juliusruh partly and agrees also with the published results obtained from measurements over Saskatoon. ¿ 1999 American Geophysical Union