Climate can outline a area – some are sizzling and humid, whereas others are chilly and wet. Individuals usually take this into consideration once they transfer to allow them to reside in a metropolis that most closely fits their style. Those that prefer it sizzling might transfer to Phoenix or Miami, whereas individuals who prefer it chilly might transfer to Duluth or Seattle. Nonetheless, an often-overlooked side of the climate is wind. Wind can affect temperatures, create dramatic storms, and even form a metropolis’s general local weather.
However which cities are the windiest?
So, in case you’re contemplating shifting to a brand new space, we’re right here to assist. Redfin has compiled an inventory of the windiest cities within the U.S. that can assist you transfer with confidence. Learn on to find if one among these cities is best for you.
How we decide the windiest cities
For our functions of figuring out the “windiest” cities, this checklist will concentrate on cities which have the best common annual wind velocity. Many cities steadily see sturdy bursts of wind, like these from tornadoes and hurricanes, however are comparatively calm in any other case. These gained’t make the lower. This checklist focuses on consistency over a whole yr.
Due to this, cities within the Nice Plains from central Texas to South Dakota (often called Twister Alley) and the Southeast from Louisiana to Kentucky (often called Dixie Alley) don’t make the checklist. Equally, most cities that see hurricanes alongside the Gulf of Mexico and Southeast Atlantic Coast additionally don’t make the checklist. Wind definitely performs a significant function in these cities, although, so all the time do your analysis to grasp a metropolis’s wind threat earlier than making the transfer.
Preserve studying to see Redfin’s rankings of the windiest cities within the U.S. with a inhabitants of 100,000 or extra. Afterwards, we’ll additionally point out the least windy cities.
What are the windiest cities within the U.S.?
1. Amarillo, Texas
Common wind velocity: 12.9 mph
File highest wind velocity: 84 mph (1949)
Amarillo, TX is the windiest main metropolis within the U.S. Its sturdy, constant winds are on account of its location within the Southwestern Nice Plains. The Plains are particularly susceptible to winds on account of their air stress instability and flat, dry, and unforested terrain. With fewer obstructions, the wind has time to choose up velocity. Moreover, the Plains expertise sturdy springtime winds from the Nocturnal Low-Stage Jet.
Town’s wind document occurred in the course of the usually calm winter, when highly effective gusts from a storm over the Rocky Mountains introduced intense winds to the realm. This can be a pretty frequent phenomenon throughout the Western Plains. Low stress strikes west throughout the tall mountains earlier than dashing (and spinning) downhill on account of sturdy temperature and elevation variations.
So, do you wish to transfer to the windiest metropolis within the nation? Amarillo is a real Route 66 cowboy city, identified for its Texas-sized steaks, the well-known Starlight Ranch, and horseback driving by way of Palo Duro Canyon.
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2. Rochester, Minnesota
Common wind velocity: 12.0 mph
File highest wind velocity: 74 mph (2019)
Rochester is the second-windiest metropolis within the U.S., beating out close by Chicago and Minneapolis by a large margin. In distinction to most different windy cities, Rochester sees a few of its strongest winds within the winter on account of chilly fronts from Canada. That is usually adopted by heat southerly winds from the Rocky Mountains.
Curiously, nonetheless, the area’s highest wind velocity of 74 mph got here in August, which is their calmest month on common. This wind got here from a derecho, that are widespread and extreme bands of windstorms and thunderstorms that may produce injury just like a twister. Derechos are pretty uncommon, however they’re most typical within the Midwest in the course of the summer time and might have an effect on each metropolis on this checklist.
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3. Lubbock, Texas
Common wind velocity: 12.0 mph
File highest wind velocity: 90 mph (1952)
Simply 120 miles south of Amarillo, Lubbock, TX is the third-windiest metropolis within the nation. Lubbock is dominated by flat, dry prairies, oil wells, and cattle ranches, and owes its wind to sturdy thunderstorms, stress instability, and flat terrain. Town experiences practically similar climate to close by Amarillo.
Lubbock is finest identified for its agriculture, schooling, and leisure, with Texas Tech and Joyland Amusement Park the highest locations. It’s additionally nicknamed the Hub Metropolis of West-Central Texas and has a wealthy ranching and musical heritage, with museums to show it.
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4. Corpus Christi, Texas
Common wind velocity: 11.7 mph
File highest wind velocity: 161 mph (1970)
Additionally one of many hottest cities within the U.S., Corpus Christi, TX is the fourth-windiest metropolis within the nation. In distinction to Midwestern cities, Corpus Christi’s wind comes from constant summer time breezes from the Gulf of Mexico and winter and spring storms from the west and northwest. This area’s wind is constant all yr, with speeds usually sitting between 10 and 13 mph.
Corpus Christi’s strongest wind gust got here from a hurricane (Celia in 1970), which is way increased than another metropolis on this checklist. Different cities might have seen stronger winds from tornadoes, however trendy devices will not be sturdy sufficient to face up to these excessive wind speeds. Hurricanes are uncommon in Corpus Christi, however may be devastating.
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5. Wichita, Kansas
Common wind velocity: 11.5 mph
File highest wind velocity: 101 mph (1993)
Wichita is the fifth-windiest metropolis and follows the identical tendencies as different Midwest cities. Spring is the windiest season, summer time is the calmest, and powerful thunderstorms are frequent a lot of the yr. One such thunderstorm in the summertime of 1993 produced town’s highest recorded wind velocity.
Referred to as the “Air Capital of the World,” Wichita is the central hub of Kansas and is house to main plane producers like Cessna and Beechcraft. Town can also be identified for its Civil Rights historical past, botanical gardens, and annual festivals like Riverfest.
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6. Boston, Massachusetts
Common wind velocity: 11.5 mph
File highest wind velocity: 90 mph (2019)
Boston, MA is the sixth-windiest metropolis and the one metropolis on our checklist on the East Coast. Due to its northern location, town sees very constant breezes from the colder North Atlantic Ocean year-round, however can see stronger storms within the fall and winter. The strongest storms come from the collision of chilly Canadian air and heat air from the southern Atlantic, which deliver heavy rain, snow, and wind as they transfer northward (from heat to chilly). These pretty frequent and infamous storms are referred to as “nor’easters.”
Boston’s strongest wind gust really got here from a 2019 “sou’easter,” which is analogous to well-known nor’easters, however as an alternative brought on by an extra of hotter air from the southeastern Atlantic. Sou’easters are extra frequent within the fall and early winter.
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7. Oklahoma Metropolis, Oklahoma
Common wind velocity: 11.3 mph
File highest wind velocity: 151 mph (2011)
Oklahoma is thought for its flat terrain, sturdy winds, and being in prime twister territory — and Oklahoma Metropolis isn’t any completely different. The truth is, in 1999, the Oklahoma Metropolis space noticed the strongest unofficial wind velocity on earth when an EF-5 twister struck close to Bridge Creek. The twister’s wind velocity was measured at 301 mph (+/- 20 mph), though it’s an approximation and isn’t an official document.
Much like different Midwestern cities, Oklahoma Metropolis will get its ample wind from stress instability and night thunderstorms. Whereas the realm’s document wind gust information is scarce, probably the most correct information comes from an in depth encounter with a twister that struck close by.
The state capital is thought for its large zoo, Bricktown Leisure District, and the beautiful Myriad Botanical Gardens. Sports activities are additionally a pivotal a part of life.
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8. Wichita Falls, Texas
Common wind velocity: 11.2 mph
File highest wind velocity: unknown
Wichita Falls, TX is the eight-windiest metropolis within the nation and one of the susceptible to tornadoes (though cities in Louisiana and Mississippi might now personal that title). Much like Amarillo, Lubbock, and different Central and Western Texas cities, Wichita sees the strongest winds in the course of the spring and offers with thunderstorms in the summertime.
Wichita Falls has seen loads of sturdy storms, together with an F-5 and F-4 twister. Whereas these storms can produce winds in extra of 250 mph, the readings are approximate and unofficial. Its strongest official winds possible got here from a extreme thunderstorm, however data are incomplete.
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9. Fargo, North Dakota
Common wind velocity: 11.1 mph
File highest wind velocity: 110 mph (1999)
Fargo, ND is the ninth-windiest metropolis within the U.S. and one of many coldest. Though it’s farther north than different cities on this checklist, it’s nonetheless exceptionally flat and experiences a considerable amount of stress instability, resulting in sturdy, constant winds.
Fargo’s highest wind velocity possible got here from the huge Boundary Waters-Canadian derecho that moved from North Dakota, by way of southern Canada, and again into New England till dissipating on the coast of Maine.
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10. Abilene, Texas
Common wind velocity: 10.9 mph
File highest wind velocity: 78 mph (1983)
Abilene, TX rounds out our checklist because the tenth-windiest metropolis within the nation. Identical to close by Lubbock and Wichita Falls, Abilene sees an extra of wind on account of flat terrain, unstable air, and powerful summer time storms.
Abilene’s nickname, the “Storybook Capital of America,” provides credence to its Texas appeal and hospitality, in addition to the primary museum for image e-book artwork within the nation. A real previous Western tradition and a flat, wooded panorama give town a novel really feel that many like to name house.
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The ten least windy cities within the U.S.
Some folks might wish to select the place to reside based mostly on how calm the climate is. If that is you, right here’s an inventory of the least windy main U.S. cities:
Los Angeles, CA: 1.9 mph
Chattanooga, TN: 5.0 mph
Tallahassee, FL: 5.5 mph
Augusta, GA: 5.5 mph
Lengthy Seashore, CA: 5.6 mph
Montgomery, AL: 5.9 mph
Macon, GA: 5.9 mph
Gainesville, FL: 6.0 mph
Columbus, GA: 6.0 mph
Knoxville, TN: 6.0 mph
What’s the highest wind velocity ever recorded within the U.S.?
Mount Washington, the tallest mountain within the Appalachians, holds the document for strongest wind velocity in america at 231 mph in 1934, which was additionally the world document for over 60 years till Tropical Cyclone Olivia (253 mph) broke it in 1996. Situated in Northern New Hampshire, Mount Washington is constantly very windy, with a median annual wind velocity of 35.8 mph, greater than double any metropolis within the nation.
Tornadoes are literally able to producing the strongest winds on the planet, however they’re so damaging that they destroy measuring gear once they cross paths. Due to this, tornadoes are excluded from wind velocity data on account of unreliable measurements. Nonetheless, specialists nonetheless estimate twister wind speeds through the use of cell doppler radars that measure the velocity of mud or particles inside the twister.
How is wind altering?
Because the world warms and local weather change continues, common wind speeds are literally possible going to lower. This is because of rising common temperatures, particularly in historically cooler locations. Wind is brought on by modifications in stress and temperature, normally from low to excessive and chilly to heat. So, as colder locations get hotter, the temperature variations that drive international wind patterns will shrink, resulting in slower wind speeds.
Nonetheless, the other is true with extreme storms, that are anticipated to extend. That is particularly pronounced with hurricanes, which depend on heat water to develop. As ocean temperatures rise, hurricanes are projected to grow to be extra frequent and damaging. Tornadoes are additionally barely favored to grow to be extra frequent and can possible have a larger influence on infrastructure.
Methodology
This checklist comprises annual wind velocity information for main cities with over 100,000 residents. 2023 Comparative Climatic Information was obtained from the Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and its subsidiary, the Nationwide Facilities for Environmental Info (NCEI).
