Why Is It So Windy Today?

Why Is It So Windy Today

Why is it windy all of a sudden?

Uneven warming of air can happen due to local factors. That can produce sudden large pressure gradients which can cause that sudden strong gust of wind. Sometimes, this is a downburst. A strong downdraft will reach ground level and be deflected outward at ground level, moving 50 miles per hour or faster.

Why is the wind getting worse?

Unexplained trend maybe due to warming, natural cycles, expert says. The world has gotten stormier over the past two decades—and the reason is a mystery, a new study says. In the past 20 years, winds have picked up around 5 percent on average. Extremely strong winds caused by storms have increased even faster, jumping 10 percent over 20 years, according to the new analysis of global satellite data.

The study, the first to look at wind speeds across such a large swath of the planet, bolsters some earlier findings, according to study leader Ian Young, of the Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia. “Some regional studies had found similar results, so we suspected there may be an increasing trend,” Young said.

(See “Extreme Ocean Storms on the Rise, Tremors Show.” ) Bat-Like Sonar Tracks Wind Speeds With the development of satellite and radar technology, the planet’s temperature and rainfall have been tracked like never before. Other aspects of the climate, however, haven’t gotten as much attention.

  1. To create a record of wind measurements around the world, Young and colleagues assembled global satellite measurements dating back to 1985.
  2. The team drew on records from satellites that used radar altimeters, which work similarly to bats’ echolocation, or natural radar.
  3. The orbiting satellites shoot radio waves at Earth and listen for the echoes that bounce back into space.

When winds are blowing hard, the radar echoes are fainter, giving a measure of how strong the wind is blowing over the oceans. Windy Trend Linked to Global Warming? It’s not yet clear whether the windier trend is due to global warming, or if it’s part of a cyclical pattern, said Young, whose research appeared Friday in the journal Science,

Is it windy because of climate change?

ANALYSIS – As carbon dioxide levels rise and the Earth’s poles warm, researchers are predicting a decline in the planet’s wind speeds. This ‘stilling’ could impact wind energy production and plant growth and might even affect the Gulf Stream, which drives much of the world’s climate.

Last year, from summer into fall, much of Europe experienced what’s known as a “wind drought.” Wind speeds in many places slowed about 15 percent below the annual average, and in other places, the drop was even more pronounced. It was one of the least windy periods in the United Kingdom in the past 60 years, and the effects on power generation were dramatic.

Wind farms produced 18 percent of the U.K.’s power in September of 2020, but in September of 2021, that percentage plummeted to only 2 percent. To make up the energy gap, the U.K. was forced to restart two mothballed coal plants. The recent declines in surface winds over Europe renewed concerns about a “global terrestrial stilling” linked with climate change.

  • From 1978 until 2010, research showed a worldwide stilling of winds, with speeds dropping 2.3 percent per decade.
  • In 2019, though, a group of researchers found that after 2010, global average wind speeds had actually increased — from 7 miles per hour to 7.4 miles per hour.
  • Despite those conflicting data, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change forecasts slowing winds for the coming decades.

By 2100, that body says, average annual wind speeds could drop by up to 10 percent. “Why do we have wind at all on the planet?” asks Paul Williams, who studies wind as a professor of atmospheric science at the University of Reading in England. “It’s because of uneven temperatures — very cold at the poles and warm at the tropics.

That temperature difference drives the winds, and that temperature difference is weakening. The Arctic is warming faster than the tropics.” A slowing in surface winds could disrupt the Gulf Stream, contributing to drought and more intense winter storms. According to a recent study in Nature, the Arctic has, since 1979, been warming four times faster than the rest of the world.

That’s much quicker than scientists had previously thought, and this warming could presage an even steeper decline in wind than anticipated. Another factor possibly contributing to stilling is an increase in “surface roughness” — an uptick in the number and size of urban buildings, which act as a drag on winds.

  1. Wind has been an overlooked element of climate change studies, which helps explain why the debate over these trends continues.
  2. The field is young, with only 70 years of data — temperature data, by contrast, goes back thousands of years — and wind systems are notoriously difficult to study and analyze.

Substantial annual fluctuations make long-term trends difficult to detect, and conclusions are rarely firm. Still, one recent pioneering study has shined light on the behavior of winds by examining where and how much dust settled on earth during the Pliocene era, when temperatures and carbon dioxide levels were similar to what they are today.

“By using the Pliocene as an analog for modern global warming, it seems likely that the movement of the westerlies” — the prevailing mid-latitude winds that blow from west to east — “towards the poles observed in the modern era will continue with further human-induced warming,” says Gisela Winckler, a researcher at Columbia University’s Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory and an author of the Pliocene dust paper.

Her models indicate “that the winds weaker, and stiller.” Projected change in average wind speeds under 1.5 degrees C of warming. Blue indicates slower winds, green faster winds. IPCC Another recent study found that there will be regional and seasonal variability in winds in the United States as carbon dioxide levels increase: by 2100, wind speeds will decrease over most of the western U.S.

  1. And the East Coast, but the central U.S.
  2. Will see an increase.
  3. Several other studies predict similar variability — both regional and seasonal — worldwide.
  4. The uncertainty, says Williams, is “a fundamental signal-to-noise problem that’s inherent in nature.
  5. From one year to the next there’s a lot of variability, and it’s difficult to extract a long-term signal when there is a lot of variability taking place at the same time.” A stilling or an increase in winds could have serious repercussions for both the human and non-human world.

“Wind affects plant growth, reproduction, distribution, death and ultimately plant evolution,” wrote the plant physiologist P.S. Nobel in a 1981 paper titled “Wind as an Ecological Factor.” Giant sequoias on the U.S. West Coast, for example, depend on regular deliveries of phosphorous blowing in from the Gobi Desert, across the Pacific Ocean.

  1. And surface winds are responsible for driving the Gulf Stream, the ocean current that drives much of the world’s climate.
  2. A slowing in surface winds could disrupt this conveyor, contributing to drought, colder weather, and more intense winter storms.
  3. Higher than normal winds can damage or destroy trees and will increase rates of evapotranspiration — a challenge for farmers and ranchers in already dry areas.

And more extreme winds have been linked with worsening wildfire seasons in the western U.S. “The recent wind drought is a clear reminder of how variable generation can be,” writes one researcher. Brisk winds can help relieve cities choking on pollution and replace stagnant air with fresh.

  • Slower winds, on the other hand, exacerbate the misery of heat waves, which are predicted to become more frequent and longer lasting.
  • Slow winds also make it more difficult for planes to take off because pilots rely on headwinds for lift.
  • In the last 30 years, the maximum takeoff weight for an Airbus 320 has decreased by 4 tons at one airport in Greece, according to Williams, due to both slowing headwinds and rising temperatures.

Global stilling, if it happens, will have a massive impact on alternative energy production. “A 10 percent drop in winds does not mean a 10 percent drop in energy,” Williams says. Turbines are somewhat inefficient, with limits on how much energy they can extract from the wind.

According to Williams, a 10 percent decline in wind speeds would actually result in “a 30 percent drop, and that would be catastrophic.” Europe is all in on wind power as an alternative to coal and other fossil fuels. The United Kingdom generates about 24 percent of its energy from more than 11,000 on- and offshore wind turbines, and the European Union gets about 15 percent of its electricity from wind.

That percentage is growing as more wind turbines come online. In the U.S., wind farms provide nearly 10 percent of utility-scale electricity generation. By 2050 the amount of power produced is projected to nearly quadruple. But if wind speeds diminish, it could be harder to reach that goal. An Airbus A320neo taking off from Athens International Airport. Slower winds make it harder for planes to take off. Nicolas Economou / NurPhoto via Getty Images Hannah Bloomfield, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Bristol, studies wind and wind energy.

  1. She believes that, until recently, changes in wind speed have been within the range of variability, and that there is no solid evidence, today, of global stilling induced by climate change.
  2. But models of the future are of more concern.
  3. Studies show if you start to take it forward, past 2050, the IPCC’s arguments start to look a lot more convincing.” “The recent wind drought is a clear reminder of how variable this form of generation can be,” she wrote last year in The Conversation, “and it cannot be the sole investment for a reliable future energy grid.” Dealing with wind-energy droughts will require new strategies for energy storage and reliable alternatives, says Upmanu Lall, a professor of civil engineering at Columbia University.

Because of the variability of both wind and sunshine, alternative energy is “starting to look more like a water system than an energy system,” he says. Just as water systems with their variable supplies need to be managed to accommodate precipitation trends that occur over yearly, decadal, and century-long scales, “this is going to be part of the lexicon of the energy system as well.” Most current battery technology will not help during extended energy droughts, Lall says, since today’s batteries store energy only for several days.

  • Many people are discussing hydrogen and nuclear in this context,” he continues.
  • You can create hydrogen when you have excess solar and wind, and it can be used when you have a shortage.” Excess renewable energy can also be used to pump water uphill to a reservoir; energy is generated later by releasing water back downhill, passing through a turbine.

Natural gas prices in Europe rose more than 450 percent during last year’s European wind stilling. Decreasing winds could also exacerbate the volatility of energy markets. If natural gas prices spike — because of war in Ukraine, say, or an especially cold winter — at the same time as a regional stilling event, energy prices could rise beyond the means of millions.

  1. Natural gas prices in Europe rose more than 450 percent during last year’s European stilling, and electricity prices in the Nordic region rose by up to 470 percent over the previous year.
  2. While stilling has occurred in some parts of the world, anecdotal reports in other places suggest that the wind is blowing more fiercely — and more often — than ever before.

Earlier this year in central New Mexico, for example, wildland firefighters, ranchers, and others described wind events as unprecedented. Martin Baca, a long-time alfalfa grower and rancher south of Albuquerque, said he’s never seen the wind blow as often as it recently has.

  • You can irrigate, and five days later it’s dry,” he said.
  • That hot wind is like a hair dryer.
  • And there’s no dew help the grass grow.” Unfortunately, science has yet to get a handle on where wind stilling and wind increases — triggered by long-term climate-change trends — will occur.
  • There’s no settled science here,” Williams says.

The 2019 paper, which indicated speedier winds over a nine-year period, was confounded by last summer’s European doldrums. “Things have tipped the other way again,” Williams says, sounding resigned to the uncertainties. “It’s not supposed to be that calm over Europe in the summer.”

What causes high winds?

Causes of Windstorms – We expect high winds during stormy weather or high-profile storms like tropical storms and hurricanes. But dangerously high winds can occur even on a clear day, because the causes of windstorms all come down to temperature. Gas particles bundle tightly together in cold air and spread out as the air warms, which is why you may hear masses of cold and warm air referred to as “high pressure systems” and “low pressure systems,” respectively.

When these systems collide, air rushes from the high pressure area to the low pressure area, creating wind. The greater the pressure difference, the faster the wind. Heavy winds are typically formed by atmospheric pressure variations, which cause gusts of air to rush in to fill low-pressure zones. Additionally, wind can result from heavy activity in the jet-stream high in the sky.

Finally, large fronts of cold air can also provoke turbulence in the atmosphere. When all those conditions combine, you could be in for winds that endure for days. While wind is a frequent, and usually benign, natural phenomenon, the effects of windstorms do have potential to cause harm to you and your home, either on their own or in conjunction with other weather conditions.

What’s considered windy in KM?

Beaufort wind scale table

Force Wind Speed Descriptive Term
Km/h
6 39 – 49 Strong breeze
7 50 – 61 Near gale
8 62 – 74 Gale

When should I be worried about wind?

Wind Threat Description

Graphical Hazardous Weather Outlook High Wind Threat
The “High Wind Hazard Map” depicts the local threat for specified areas based on the adverse affects of increased wind speed.

High Wind Threat Level Threat Level Descriptions
Extreme “An Extreme Threat to Life and Property from High Wind.” “Damaging high wind” with sustained speeds greater than 58 mph, or frequent wind gusts greater than 58 mph. Damaging wind conditions are consistent with a high wind warning.
High “A High Threat to Life and Property from High Wind.” “High wind” with sustained speeds of 40 to 57 mph. Wind conditions consistent with a high wind warning.
Moderate “A Moderate Threat to Life and Property from High Wind.” “Very windy” with sustained speeds of 26 to 39 mph, or frequent wind gusts of 35 to 57 mph. Wind conditions consistent with a wind advisory.
Low “A Low Threat to Life and Property from High Wind.” “Windy” conditions. Sustained wind speeds of 21 to 25 mph, or frequent wind gusts of 30 to 35 mph.
Very Low ” A Very Low Threat to Life and Property from High Wind.” “Breezy” to “Windy” conditions. Sustained wind speeds around 20 mph, or frequent gusts of 25 to 30 mph.
Non-Threatening ” No Discernable Threat to Life and Property from High Wind.” The sustain wind speeds are non-threatening; “breezy” conditions may still be present.
Note: In “High Wind” conditions, small branches break off trees and loose objects are blown about. Isolated occurrences of wind damage to porches, carports, awnings, or pool enclosures. Isolated power outages may even occur. Winds considered dangerous for high profile vehicles and for boaters on area lakes. In “Damaging High Wind” conditions, wind damage occurs to unanchored mobile homes, porches, carports, awnings, pool enclosures and with some shingles blown from roofs. Large branches break off trees with weak or diseased trees blown down. Loose objects are easily blown about and can become dangerous projectiles. Widely scattered power outages may occur. Winds considered extremely dangerous for high profile vehicles and for boaters on area lakes.

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Wind Threat Description

Why has it gotten windier?

The trend contradicts concerns of a “global stilling,” with implications for wind energy Why Is It So Windy Today Credit: Getty Images

Wind speeds are getting faster worldwide, and that’s good news for renewable energy production — at least for now. A study published yesterday in the journal Nature Climate Change finds that winds across much of North America, Europe and Asia have been growing faster since about 2010. In less than a decade, the global average wind speed has increased from about 7 mph to about 7.4 mph. For the average wind turbine, that translates to a 17% increase in potential wind energy. That might explain about half the increase in U.S. wind power capacity since 2010, researchers say. The study may help put to rest a scientific debate that’s perplexed researchers for years. Before global wind speeds picked up in 2010, they had been decreasing for several decades, starting in the 1970s. Scientists floated a variety of theories about the “global stilling,” as it came to be called. One of the most popular ideas suggested that increasing urban development and other land-use changes had altered the surface of the Earth, making it rougher and increasing the amount of drag acting on the flow of air around the world. But if that were the case, wind speeds should still be slowing down now — not speeding up. The recent reversal suggests that some other factor must be playing a bigger role. The new study points to large, natural climate cycles as the likely culprit. Using models to investigate the factors that influence the behavior of global winds, the researchers found that big climate patterns — which affect temperatures in certain parts of the world — have a major influence on wind speeds. Temperature differences between neighboring regions, or between the ocean and nearby land areas, can affect the flow of air. For instance, the researchers found that wind speeds tend to be slower across much of the Northern Hemisphere when temperatures are warmer in parts of the tropical Atlantic and the western Pacific and over Greenland. Temperatures all over the Earth are steadily rising as a result of human-caused climate change. But within that larger, long-term warming pattern, temperatures in these regions also tend to naturally cycle back and forth between warmer and cooler periods, sometimes lasting decades at a time. The authors of the new study suggest that a shift between certain natural climate cycles may have helped trigger the switch from slower to faster winds. If they’re right, the speeding-up trend could continue for another decade or longer, until the next major shift occurs. That could be a boon for the wind power industry in the near future. If the current pattern continues, the authors suggest that average global power generation could increase by as much as 37% by 2024. The study also raises some important points about long-term wind power planning. If natural climate cycles can cause such major changes in global wind speeds, the industry should plan for potential ups and downs. And if climate fluctuations really do have such a big effect, there’s also the question of how future climate change may factor in. While some theories are more controversial than others, recent studies have drawn connections between climate change and the behavior of the Northern Hemisphere jet stream, the westerly winds around Antarctica and other air circulation patterns around the world. And some modeling studies have suggested that continued warming could cause substantial shifts in the regions with the most potential wind power around the world — namely, declines in the Northern Hemisphere and some potential gains in the global South. Determining where these changes could occur is critical for long-term planning purposes, including where to invest in new wind farms and what to expect from existing ones. And if the new study is accurate, both natural climate cycles and the ongoing impact of global warming should be taken into account. Reprinted from Climatewire with permission from E&E News. E&E provides daily coverage of essential energy and environmental news a t www.eenews.net,

Is it more windy in winter than summer?

How Does Temperature Affect Air Pressure? – In nature, temperature differences between air masses have an effect similar to the fans of a commercial ventilation system. Warm air rises above cold air due to its lower density, and this causes pressure differences.

Increased pressure difference between air masses. Higher wind speed.

When a cold front approaches a geographic region in the winter, the temperature gradient becomes very high. This happens because the moving mass of cold air is at a much lower temperature than the air being displaced. Winds tend to be stronger during winter, and this can be explained with the uneven heating of the Earth’s surface.

Tropical temperatures don’t change much throughout the year, but the hemisphere experiencing winter has much lower temperatures than the hemisphere getting summer. Temperature gradients are higher during winter as a result, and this brings faster wind.

Why Is It So Windy Today

Is it windier higher up?

Summary – Wind is the most important aspect of a mountain weather forecas t. Mountain-goers should research it carefully. Both wind speed and direction are important in the mountains.

The pressure gradient between high and low pressure areas is the main influence on wind speed. Wind speed increases with altitude due to loss of friction and the effects of gravity. The wind speed on a UK summit can be 2-3 times stronger than in the valley below. The shape of the mountains can significantly affect the wind, making it accelerate over summits and through cols, and causing eddies. Different rates of heating and cooling cause anabatic (uphill in the day) and katabatic (downhill at night) winds in the mountains

Does temperature affect wind speed?

The atmosphere tries to equalize the air pressure at these two spots, forming wind. Generally, the larger the temperature difference, the stronger the resulting winds will be. Temperature gradients between water and land can also cause local atmospheric circulations which affect winds.

Does wind speed affect climate?

Wind is the movement of air caused by the uneven heating of the Earth by the sun. It does not have much substance—you cannot see it or hold it—but you can feel its force. It can dry your clothes in summer and chill you to the bone in winter. It is strong enough to carry sailing ships across the ocean and rip huge trees from the ground.

It is the great equalizer of the atmosphere, transporting heat, moisture, pollutants, and dust great distances around the globe. Landforms, processes, and impacts of wind are called Aeolian landforms, such as sand dunes and Loess deposits, which are deposits of silt. Differences in atmospheric pressure generate winds.

At the Equator, the sun warms the water and land more than it does the rest of the globe. Warm equatorial air rises higher into the atmosphere and migrates toward the poles. This is a low-pressure system, At the same time, cooler, denser air moves over Earth’s surface toward the Equator to replace the heated air.

This is a high-pressure system, Winds generally blow from high-pressure areas to low-pressure areas. The boundary between these two areas is called a front, The complex relationships between fronts cause different types of wind and weather patterns, Prevailing winds are winds that blow from a single direction over a specific area of the Earth.

Areas where prevailing winds meet are called convergence zones, Generally, prevailing winds blow east-west rather than north-south. This happens because Earth’s rotation generates what is known as the Coriolis effect, The Coriolis effect makes wind systems twist counter-clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.

  • The Coriolis effect causes some winds to travel along the edges of the high-pressure and low-pressure systems.
  • These are called geostrophic winds,
  • In 1857, Dutch meteorologist Christoph Buys Ballot formulated a law about geostrophic winds: When you stand with your back to the wind in the Northern Hemisphere, low pressure is always to your left.

(In the Southern Hemisphere, low-pressure systems will be on your right.) Wind Zones The Earth contains five major wind zones: polar easterlies, westerlies, horse latitudes, trade winds, and the doldrums, Polar Easterlies Polar easterlies are dry, cold prevailing winds that blow from the east.

They emanate from the polar highs, areas of high pressure around the North and South Poles. Polar easterlies flow to low-pressure areas in sub-polar regions. Westerlies Westerlies are prevailing winds that blow from the west at midlatitudes, They are fed by polar easterlies and winds from the high-pressure horse latitudes, which sandwich them on either side.

Westerlies are strongest in the winter, when pressure over the pole is low, and weakest in summer, when the polar high creates stronger polar easterlies. The strongest westerlies blow through the “Roaring Forties,” a wind zone between 40 and 50 degrees latitude in the Southern Hemisphere.

  1. Throughout the Roaring Forties, there are few landmasses to slow winds.
  2. The tip of South America and Australia, as well as the islands of New Zealand, are the only large landmasses to penetrate the Roaring Forties.
  3. The westerlies of the Roaring Forties were very important to sailors during the Age of Exploration, when explorers and traders from Europe and western Asia used the strong winds to reach the spice markets of Southeast Asia and Australia.

Westerlies have an enormous impact on ocean currents, especially in the Southern Hemisphere. Driven by westerlies, the powerful Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) rushes around the continent (from west to east) at about 4 kilometers per hour (2.5 miles per hour).

In fact, another name for the Antarctic Circumpolar Current is the West Wind Drift. The ACC is the largest ocean current in the world, and is responsible for transporting enormous volumes of cold, nutrient-rich water to the ocean, creating healthy marine ecosystems and food webs. Horse Latitudes The horse latitudes are a narrow zone of warm, dry climates between westerlies and the trade winds.

Horse latitudes are about 30 and 35 degrees north and south. Many deserts, from the rainless Atacama of South America to the arid Kalahari of Africa, are part of the horse latitudes. The prevailing winds at the horse latitudes vary, but are usually light.

Even strong winds are often short in duration. Trade Winds Trade winds are the powerful prevailing winds that blow from the east across the tropics, Trade winds are generally very predictable, They have been instrumental in the history of exploration, communication, and trade. Ships relied on trade winds to establish quick, reliable routes across the vast Atlantic and, later, Pacific Oceans.

Even today, shipping depends on trade winds and the ocean currents they drive. In 1947, Norwegian explorer Thor Hyerdahl and a small crew used trade winds to travel from the coast of Peru to the coral reefs of French Polynesia, more than 6,920 kilometers (4,300 miles), in a sail-powered raft.

  1. The expedition, named after the raft ( Kon-Tiki ) aimed to prove that ancient mariners could have used predictable trade winds to explore wide stretches of the Pacific.
  2. Trade winds that form over land (called continental trade winds) are warmer and drier than those that form over the ocean (maritime trade winds).

The relationship between continental and maritime trade winds can be violent. Most tropical storms, including hurricanes, cyclones, and typhoons, develop as trade winds. Differences in air pressure over the ocean cause these storms to develop. As the dense, moist winds of the storm encounter the drier winds of the coast, the storm can increase in intensity.

  • Strong trade winds are associated with a lack of precipitation, while weak trade winds carry rainfall far inland.
  • The most famous rain pattern in the world, the Southeast Asian monsoon, is a seasonal, moisture-laden trade wind.
  • Besides ships and rainfall, trade winds can also carry particles of dust and sand for thousands of kilometers.

Particles from Saharan sand and dust storms can blow across islands in the Caribbean Sea and the U.S. state of Florida, more than 8,047 kilometers (5,000 miles) away. Dust storms in the tropics can be devastating for the local community. Valuable topsoil is blown away and visibility can drop to almost zero.

  1. Across the ocean, dust makes the sky hazy.
  2. These dust storms are often associated with dry, low-pressure areas and a lack of tropical storms.
  3. Doldrums The place where trade winds of the two hemispheres meet is called the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ),
  4. The area around the ITCZ is called the doldrums.

Prevailing winds in the doldrums are very weak, and the weather is unusually calm. The ITCZ straddles the Equator. In fact, the low-pressure doldrums are created as the sun heats the equatorial region and causes air masses to rise and travel north and south.

(This warm, low-pressure equatorial wind descends again around the horse latitudes. Some equatorial air masses return to the doldrums as trade winds, while others circulate in the other direction as westerlies.) Although monsoons impact tropical as well as equatorial regions, the wind itself is created as the ITCZ moves slightly away from the Equator each season.

This change in the doldrums disturbs the usual air pressure, creating the moisture-laden Southeast Asian monsoon. Results of Wind Wind traveling at different speeds, different altitudes, and over water or land can cause different types of patterns and storms.

  • Jet Streams Jet streams are geostrophic winds that form near the boundaries of air masses with different temperatures and humidity,
  • The rotation of the Earth and its uneven heating by the sun also contribute to the formation of high-altitude jet streams.
  • These strong, fast winds in the upper atmosphere can blow 480 kph (298 mph).

Jet streams blow through a layer of the atmosphere called the stratosphere, at altitudes of 8 to 14 kilometers (5 to 9 miles) above Earth’s surface. There is little turbulence in the stratosphere, which is why commercial airline pilots like to fly in this layer.

Riding with jet streams saves time and fuel. Have you ever heard someone talk about a headwind or tailwind when they are talking about airplanes? These are jet streams. If they are behind the plane, pushing it forward, they are called tailwinds. They can help you get to your destination more quickly. If the winds are in front of the plane, pushing it back, they are called headwinds.

Strong headwinds can cause flight delays. Hurricane A hurricane is a giant, spiraling tropical storm that can pack wind speeds of over 257 kph (160 mph) and unleash more than 9 trillion liters (2.4 trillion gallons) of rain. These same tropical storms are known as hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean, cyclones in the northern Indian Ocean, and typhoons in the western Pacific Ocean.

These tropical storms have a spiral shape. The spiral (swirling counter-clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere) develops as a high-pressure area twists around a low-pressure area. The Atlantic Ocean’s hurricane season peaks from mid-August to late October and averages five to six hurricanes per year.

Wind conditions that can lead to hurricanes are called tropical disturbances. They begin in warm ocean waters when the surface temperatures are at least 26.6 degrees Celsius (80 degrees Fahrenheit). If the disturbance lasts for more than 24 hours and gets to speeds of 61 kph (38 mph), it becomes known as a tropical depression,

  1. When a tropical depression speeds up to 63-117 kph (39-73 mph), it is known as a tropical storm, and is given a name.
  2. Meteorologists name the storms in alphabetical order, and alternate with female and male names.
  3. When a storm reaches 119 kph (74 mph), it becomes a hurricane and is rated from 1 to 5 in severity on the Saffir Simpson scale,

A Category 5 hurricane is the strongest storm possible on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Winds of a Category 5 blow at 252 kph (157 mph). Hurricanes spin around a low-pressure (warm) center known as the “eye.” Sinking air inside the eye makes it very calm. The eye is surrounded by a violent circular ” eye wall,” This is where the storm’s strongest winds and rain are.

  1. Hurricane Ethel, the strongest hurricane in recorded history, roared across the Gulf of Mexico in September 1960.
  2. Winds were sustained at 260 kph (160 mph).
  3. However, Hurricane Ethel quickly dissipated,
  4. Although its winds ultimately blew as far north as the U.S.
  5. States of Ohio and Kentucky, by the time it hit the coastline of the U.S.

states of Louisiana and Mississippi, the storm surge was only about 1.5 meters (5 feet). Only one person died as a result of Hurricane Ethel, and damage to buildings and boats was limited to less than $2 million. Hurricanes bring destruction to coastal ecosystems and communities.

When a hurricane reaches land, it often produces waves that can reach 6 meters (20 feet) high and be pushed by high winds 161 kilometers (100 miles) inland. These storm surges are extremely dangerous and cause 90 percent of all hurricane deaths. The deadliest hurricane on record is the Great Hurricane of 1780.

Although sophisticated meteorological equipment was not available at that time, winds may have reached 320 kph (200 mph) as the hurricane hit Barbados and other islands in the Caribbean Sea. This may have been enough to strip the bark from trees. More than 20,000 people died as a result of the hurricane as it made its way across Barbados, St.

  1. Lucia, Martinique, Dominica, Guadeloupe, Dominican Republic, Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, and Bermuda.
  2. Although it decreased in intensity, the hurricane was tracked through the U.S.
  3. State of Florida before dissipating in the Canadian province of Newfoundland.
  4. Hurricanes can be destructive in other ways.
  5. High winds can create tornadoes,

Heavy rains contribute to floods and landslides, which may occur many kilometers inland. Damage to homes, businesses, schools, hospitals, roads, and transportation systems can devastate communities and entire regions. Hurricane Katrina, which blew through the Gulf of Mexico and into the southern U.S.

  • In 2005, is the most expensive hurricane in recorded history.
  • Damage to buildings, vehicles, roads, and shipping facilities is estimated at about $133.8 billion (adjusted for inflation).
  • New Orleans, Louisiana, was almost completely devastated by Hurricane Katrina.
  • New Orleans, as well as Mobile, Alabama, and Gulfport, Mississippi, took years to recover from the damage done to their structures and infrastructure,

The best defense against a hurricane is an accurate forecast that gives people time to get out of its way. The National Hurricane Center issues hurricane watches for storms that may endanger communities, and hurricane warnings for storms that will reach land within 24 hours.

Cyclones Cyclones blow through the Indian Ocean in the same way hurricanes blow across the Atlantic. Cyclones blow in with air masses from the east, often the South China Sea, or the south. The most powerful and devastating cyclone in recorded history was the 1970 Bhola Cyclone. Like Hurricane Katrina, the Bhola Cyclone was a Category 3 storm.

Its winds were about 185 kph (115 mph) as it made landfall along the coast of the Bay of Bengal, in what is today Bangladesh. More than 300,000 people died, and more than a million were made homeless. Cyclone winds devastated fishing villages, and storm surges drowned crops.

Economic damage from the Bhola Cyclone was more than $479 million, adjusted for inflation. Typhoon Typhoons are tropical storms that develop over the northwest Pacific Ocean. Their formation is identical to hurricanes and cyclones. Typhoons form as equatorial winds and blow westward before turning north and merging with westerlies around the mid-latitudes.

Typhoons can impact a wide area of the eastern Pacific. The islands of the Philippines, China, Vietnam, and Japan are the most affected. However, typhoons have also been recorded as far as the U.S. states of Hawaii and even Alaska. Typhoons are often associated with extremely heavy rainfall.

The wettest typhoon ever recorded was Typhoon Morakot in 2009. Morakot devastated the entire island of Taiwan, with winds of about 140 kph (85 mph). Storm surges and floods caused by those winds, however, caused the most damage. More than 277 centimeters (109 inches) of rain drenched Taiwan, leading to 461 deaths and $6.2 billion in damage.

Nor’easters and Blizzards A nor’easter is a strong winter storm combining heavy snowfall, strong winds, and very cold temperatures. It blows from the northeast along the East Coast of the U.S. and Canada. A strong nor’easter is called a blizzard, The U.S.

Weather Service calls a storm a blizzard when the storm has wind speeds of more than 56 kph (35 mph) and low visibility. (Visibility is the distance that a person can see— blizzards, like fog, make visibility difficult and a task like driving dangerous.) The storm must go on for a prolonged period of time to be classified as a blizzard, usually a few hours.

Blizzards can isolate and paralyze areas for days, especially if the area rarely has snowfall and does not have the equipment to clear it from the streets. The Great Blizzard of 1888 was perhaps the worst in U.S. recorded history. Winds of up to 72 kph (45 mph) whipped the East Coast from Chesapeake Bay to as far north as Nova Scotia, Canada.

More than 147 centimeters (58 inches) of snow fell across the region, causing freezing temperatures and massive flooding as the snow melted. The Great Blizzard resulted in 400 deaths and $1.2 billion in damage. Monsoon A monsoon is a seasonal change in the prevailing wind system of an area. They always blow from cold, high-pressure regions.

Monsoons are part of a yearlong cycle of uneven heating and cooling of tropical and mid-latitude coastal regions. Monsoons are part of the climate of Australia, Southeast Asia, and in the southwestern region of North America. The air over land is heated and cooled more quickly than the air over the ocean.

  • During summer, this means warm land-air rises, creating a space for the cool and moist air from the ocean.
  • As the land heats the moist air, it rises, cools, condenses, and falls back to Earth as rain.
  • During the winter, land cools more quickly than the ocean.
  • The warm air over the ocean rises, allowing cool land-air to flow in.

Most winter monsoons are cool and dry, while summer monsoons are warm and moist. Asia’s winter monsoons bring cool, dry air from the Himalaya mountains. The famous summer monsoon, on the other hand, develops over the Indian Ocean, absorbing tremendous amounts of moisture.

  1. Summer monsoons bring warmth and precipitation to India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.
  2. The summer monsoon is essential for the health and economies of the Indian subcontinent.
  3. Aquifers are filled, allowing water for drinking, hygiene, industry, and irrigation,
  4. Tornado A tornado, also called a twister, is a violently rotating funnel of air.

Tornadoes can occur individually or in multiples, as two spinning vortexes of air rotating around each other. Tornadoes can occur as waterspouts or landspouts, spinning from hundreds of meters in the air to connect the land or water with clouds above.

Although destructive tornadoes can occur at any time of day, most of them occur between 4 and 9 p.m. local time. Tornadoes often occur during intense thunderstorms called supercells, A supercell is a thunderstorm with a powerful, rotating up draft, (A draft is simply a vertical movement of air.) This powerful up draft is called a mesocyclone,

A meso cyclone contains rotating drafts of air 1 to 10 kilometers (1 to 6 miles) in the atmosphere, When rainfall increases in the supercell, rain can drag the meso cyclones down with it to the ground. This down draft is a tornado, Depending on the temperature and moisture of the air, a tornado can last a few minutes or over an hour.

However, cool winds (called rear flank down drafts ) eventually wrap around the tornado and cut off the supply of warm air that feeds it. The tornado thins out into the “rope-like” stage and dissipates a few minutes later. Most tornadoes have wind speeds of less than 177 kph (110 mph), and are about 76 meters (250 feet) across.

They can travel for several kilometers before dissipating. However, the most powerful tornadoes can have wind speeds of more than 482 kph (300 mph) and be more than 3 kilometers (2 miles) across. These tornadoes can travel across the ground for dozens of kilometers and through several states.

  1. These violent storms occur around the world, but the United States is a major hotspot with about a thousand tornadoes every year.
  2. Tornado Alley,” a region that includes eastern South Dakota, southern Minnesota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, northern Texas, and eastern Colorado, is home to the most powerful and destructive of these storms.

The most extreme tornado ever recorded occurred on March 18, 1925. This “Tri-State Tornado ” sped for 338 kilometers (219 miles) through Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana. The tornado destroyed local communications, making warnings for the next town nearly impossible.

The Tri-State Tornado killed 695 people in 3.5 hours. The best protection against a tornado is early warning. In areas where tornadoes are common, many communities have tornado warning systems. In Minnesota, for example, tall towers throughout neighborhoods sound an alarm if a tornado is near. Measuring Winds Wind is often measured in terms of wind shear,

Wind shear is a difference in wind speed and direction over a set distance in the atmosphere, Wind shear is measured both horizontally and vertically. Wind shear is measured in meters per second times kilometers of height. Under normal conditions, the winds move much faster higher in the atmosphere, creating high wind shear in high altitudes.

  1. Engineers must consider an area’s average wind shear when constructing buildings.
  2. Wind shear is higher near the coast, for example.
  3. Skyscrapers must account for this increased wind by having a stronger foundation or being engineered to safely “sway” with the wind,
  4. The amount of force that wind is generating is measured according to the Beaufort scale,

The scale is named for Sir Francis Beaufort, who established a system for describing wind force in 1805 for the British Royal Navy. The Beaufort scale has 17 levels of wind force. “0” describes conditions that are so calm that smoke rises vertically. “12” describes a hurricane, and “13-17” are reserved only for tropical typhoons, the most powerful and potentially destructive wind systems.

  1. An anemometer is a device for measuring wind speed.
  2. Anemometers are used with tornado data collectors, which measure the velocity, precipitation, and pressure of tornadoes,
  3. Tornadoes ‘ strength is measured according to the Fujita scale,
  4. The scale has six categories that designate increasing damage.

After the tornado has passed, meteorologists and engineers determine the tornado ‘s strength based on its wind speed, width, and damage to vegetation and human-built structures. In 2007, the Enhanced Fujita Scale was established in the U.S.; it provides more specific effects of the tornado to determine its destructive power.

The Enhanced Fujita Scale has 28 categories, with the strongest cataloging damage to hardwood and softwood trees. Hurricanes are measured using the Saffir-Simpson scale. In addition to tropical depressions and tropical storms, there are five categories of hurricanes, The most powerful, Category 5, is measured by winds whipping at 252 kph (157 mph).

Tropical cyclones and typhoons are often measured using other scales, such as Japan’s Tropical Cyclone Intensity Scale, which measures a typhoon as winds at 118 kph (73 mph). Impact on Climate Wind is a major factor in determining weather and climate,

  • Wind carries heat, moisture, pollutants, and pollen to new areas.
  • Many daily weather patterns depend on wind,
  • A coastal region, for instance, undergoes changes in wind direction daily.
  • The sun heats the land more quickly than the water.
  • Warm air above the land rises, and cooler air above the water moves in over the land, creating an inland breeze.

Coastal communities are usually much cooler than their inland neighbors. San Francisco is a coastal city in “sunny California,” and yet the author Mark Twain noticed that “the coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco!” Wind affects the climate of a mountainous area differently.

Rain shadows are created as wind interacts with a mountain range. As wind approaches a mountain, it brings moisture with it, which condenses as rain and other precipitation before coming over the crest of the mountain. On the other side of the mountain, dry “downslope winds ” can speed through mountain passes at nearly 160 kph (100 mph).

One of the most familiar of these downslope winds is the Föhn. Föhn winds —nicknamed “snow-eaters”—develop as air descends over the Alps, creating a warmer climate in central Europe. Winds also help drive ocean surface currents around the world. The Antarctic Circumpolar Current transports cold, nutrient-rich water around Antarctica.

  • The Gulf Stream brings warm water from the Gulf of Mexico up the East Coast of North America and across the Atlantic to Northern Europe.
  • Due to the Gulf Stream, Northern Europe enjoys a much warmer, milder climate than other areas at similar latitudes, such as the U.S.
  • State of Alaska.
  • Impact on Ecology Wind has the power to move particles of earth—usually dust or sand—in great quantities, and over far distances.

Dust from the Sahara crosses the Atlantic to create hazy sunsets in the Caribbean. Winds transport volcanic ash and debris for thousands of kilometers. Winds carried ash from the 2010 eruption of Eyjafjallajökull, a volcano in Iceland, as far west as Greenland and as far east as Great Britain.

  1. The massive 1883 eruption of Krakatoa, an island volcano in Indonesia, had even more dramatic atmospheric results.
  2. Winds carried volcanic ash and debris high in the atmosphere across the globe.
  3. Europe endured years of cold, damp summers and pink sunsets.
  4. Wind ‘s ability to move earth can erode the landscape.

In some cases, this takes places in the desert, as sand dunes migrate and change shape over time. The wind can also pick up massive amounts of sand and “sandblast” rock formations into stunning sculptures. The Altiplano region of South America has dramatically shaped ventifacts —rocks carved by the wind -driven sand and ice.

  • The wind ‘s power to erode the land can be detrimental to agriculture.
  • Loess, a sediment that can develop into one of the richest soils for farming, is easily swept up by wind,
  • Even when farmers take precautions to protect it, the wind can erode up to 2.5 kilograms of loess per square meter (1.6 pound per square foot) every year.

The most famous example of this devastating windstorm is probably the Dust Bowl of 1930s North America. Dust Bowl storms could reduce visibility to a few feet, and earned names like “Black Blizzards,” Millions of farmers, especially those in the U.S.

States of Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Texas, lost their land when they were unable to harvest any crops. However devastating to the economy, wind is an important way plants disperse seeds, This form of seed dispersal is called anemochory, Plants that rely on anemochory produce hundreds and even thousands of seeds,

Seeds are carried by the wind to distant or nearby places, increasing the spread of the plant’s genetics. Some of the most familiar seeds dispersed by the wind are those of the fuzzy dandelion. Wind Energy Wind has been used as a source of energy for more than a thousand years—it has pushed ships around the globe and been captured in windmills to pump water; it has turned giant stones to grind grains, make paper, saw logs, and crush ore.

  1. Today, most wind energy is used to generate electricity for homes, businesses, hospitals, schools, and in dustry,
  2. Wind is a renewable resource that does not directly cause pollution,
  3. Wind energy is harnessed through powerful turbines,
  4. Wind turbines have a tall tubular tower with two or three propeller-like blades rotating at the top.

When the wind turns the blades, the blades turn a generator and create electricity, Often, wind turbines are collected in windy areas in arrays known as wind farms, Many wind farms have been established on mountains, in valleys, and offshore, as the air from the ocean interacts with land-air.

Some people think wind turbines are ugly and complain about the noise they make. The slowly rotating blades can also kill birds and bats—but not nearly as many as cars, power lines, and high-rise buildings. The economic drawback to wind farms, however, is the wind itself. If it’s not blowing, there’s no electricity generated.

Still, use of wind energy has more than quadrupled between 2000 and 2006. Germany has the most installed wind energy capacity, followed by Spain, the United States, India, and Denmark. Development is also growing quickly in France and China. In dustry experts predict that if this pace of growth continues, by 2050, one-third of the world’s electricity needs could be met by wind,

Is 18 km per hour windy?

8-12 Mph 12-19 kph 7-10 knots Gentle Breeze Leaves and small twigs move, light weight flags extend. Large wavelets, crests start to break, some whitecaps.13-18 Mph 20-28 kph 11-16 knots Moderate Breeze Small branches move, raises dust, leaves and paper. Small waves develop, becoming longer, whitecaps.

Are 50 km winds strong?

Strong breeze at 39-49 kph (25-31 mph). Umbrellas are hard to use; large branches on trees move.7. Moderate gale at 50-61 kph (32-38 mph).

Why does wind drop at night?

Ask Tom: Why does wind die down around sunset during summer? Dear Tom, In the summer, I find that the wind almost always dies around 6 p.m. or a little later. Why does this occur? — Jenny Mack, Highland, Ind. Dear Jenny, Daytime winds diminish to calm by sunset all through the year, not just during the summer.

It does not happen during stormy weather, when other factors keep winds blowing at night, but when fair days draw to a close, brisk daytime winds calm out. This happens because the ground begins to cool when it is no longer receiving heat from sunlight, and the air above it cools also. Wind continues to blow a few hundred feet above the ground, however, and it continues to do so all through the night.

When the next morning’s sunshine heats the ground again, the wind aloft mixes down to the surface, and ground-level winds start to blow once again. Originally Published: Aug 23, 2018 at 6:37 pm : Ask Tom: Why does wind die down around sunset during summer?

Is 70 km h wind Strong?

Is wind an issue in Canada ? – Back to top Yes, it can be. Winds can be the result of tropical storms, low pressure systems or fronts, thunderstorms, Chinooks or local geography. Environment and Climate Change Canada state that most of Canada will experience wind damage from “straight-line” winds.

  1. Straight-line winds are winds that move horizontally along the ground away from thunderstorms.
  2. They may also be known as microbursts, downbursts, squall lines, plough lines, or derechos.
  3. Winds can also contain swirling dust and debris.
  4. Straight-line winds can be as strong as tornados, but they can cause more destruction as they cover a much larger area.

Generally speaking, Enviroment and Climate Change Canada issues a wind warning when conditions include a sustained wind of 70km/h or more, and /or gusts up to 90 km/h or more (Note: there are some regional variations for when wind warnings are issued).

Is 100km winds bad?

Damaging winds are a common feature in Australian severe weather and thunderstorm warnings. But did you know that some types of wind are more dangerous than others? There are three things that can make the wind dangerous: strength, duration and direction. The most obvious damaging feature of wind is its strength, which is typically measured in two ways:

Average or mean wind speed = the wind speed averaged over a 10-minute period. Wind gusts = sudden increases in wind for a short duration, typically a few seconds.

As a rule of thumb, wind gusts are usually about 40 percent stronger than the average wind speed over open water. In Australia, warnings are issued for:

Damaging winds – when wind gusts of 90km/h or more are expected to occur. Destructive winds – when wind gusts are likely to reach 125 km/h or higher.

Wind damage can be predicted using the Beaufort Wind Scale, which was first developed over 200 years ago and is still used widely today. While its original purpose was to estimate wind speeds based on the damage they caused, the Beaufort Scale can also be used the other way, to anticipate what impacts are likely from the predicted wind speeds.

Sustained wind speeds (10-minute average) of 40-50 km/h can cause large branches to sway and make it difficult to use an umbrella. Wind speeds averaging 76-87 km/h can break large branches off trees, dislodge roofing and cause crests of waves to start toppling over in open water. Wind speeds of 88-102 km/h are capable of uprooting trees and causing significant structural damage to buildings.

A more comprehensive breakdown of typical impacts for different wind speeds is shown below. Why Is It So Windy Today Image: Wind speeds (10-minute average) and their associated impacts, produced by the Bureau of Meteorology from the Beaufort Wind Scale. In addition to the peak wind speeds, the duration of damaging wind storm can exacerbate its impacts. One of the reasons tropical cyclones, hurricanes and typhoons are so damaging is because of their large size, which exposes a broad area to damaging or destructive winds for hours on end.

Back in September 2019, Hurricane Dorian stalled over Grand Bahama for around 24 hours. This extremely slow-moving and powerful hurricane caused extensive flooding and damage across the island, with the Grand Bahama International Airport left in tatters. #Dorian has taken more than 24 hours to traverse half of Grand Bahama.

This prolonged exposure to the hurricane’s powerful eye wall, combined with storm surge, has caused significant flooding and structural damage on the island. A truly devastating hurricane. pic.twitter.com/JHAOmt8G6k — Ben Domensino (@Ben_Domensino) September 3, 2019 In addition to wind speeds and duration, the wind direction also plays big role in determining how severe the damage will be.

  1. A landscape that is accustomed to prevailing winds from the west or north is likely to see more damage or destruction when powerful winds blow in from the east or south.
  2. This was one of the contributing factors to a wind and rain event that brought down a large number of trees in Victoria’s Dandenong Ranges in June this year.

If you’re wondering what damage a long duration (12 hours+) high wind storm over wet soils with an unusual (southeast) wind direction can do, check out this video from the Dandenong Ranges near Melbourne. Incredible. Some will have no power for 3 weeks. Why Is It So Windy Today Image: Damage in the Dandenongs after powerful winds toppled trees in June, 2021. Source: @photography_trh / Instagram The risk of tree and infrastructure damage in events like this can be exacerbated even further by heavy rain, which helps soften the soil and adds weight to the tree’s branches and leaves.

What wind speed is uncomfortable?

Table 1: Comfort

Slower than 4 m/s (9 mph) Pedestrian Sitting (considered to be of long duration)
6–8 m/s (13–18 mph) Pedestrian Walking
8–10 m/s (18–22 mph) Business Walking (objective walking from A to B or for cycling)
Faster than 10 m/s (22 mph) Uncomfortable

How much wind is too much for a human?

How strong a wind will knock someone over? Why Is It So Windy Today Ning Gao, left, and Xiaoying Li contend with blustery conditions while visiting James Madison Park to view Lake Mendota’s wind-riled waves. (Photo credit: John Hart, State Journal archives)

We have had some hefty winds this past week.The wind can displace objects, including people.

Wind is air moving from areas of high atmospheric pressure to low pressure. Violent destructive winds, as well as gentle summer breezes, result from a complex interplay of different forces. One of these forces results from a pressure gradient, or how fast pressure changes over distance.

  • When pressure changes rapidly over a small distance, the pressure gradient force is large.
  • Strong winds almost always result from large pressure gradients.
  • The greater the difference in pressure over a specific distance, the faster the air flows.
  • Strong winds can also flow out from thunderstorms.
  • Since wind is air in motion, it has momentum.

This momentum is transferred to the object the wind hits. Thus, the force of the wind can push objects by moving them or even knocking them over. Winds moving over and around objects can cause pressure changes around the object, which can also cause it to move.

  • What wind speed would knock you over? You can derive a mathematical equation to answer that.
  • It would depend on several factors: the velocity of wind (actually the square of the velocity); gravity; static friction (the force that keeps you anchored to the ground, along with gravity); drag of the wind pushing on you; the air density; your weight, size and center of gravity.

If you weighed 100 pounds, it would take a wind speed of about 45 mph to move you, but not knock you down, unless you lose your balance. Knocking you down would take a wind of at least 70 mph. The terminal velocity, which is the wind speed (falling speed) where the force of the wind equals the force of gravity, for a person is about 120 mph — that would likely knock you down.

Can wind break windows?

Wind Damage – Fierce winds can result in window glass shattering or cracking and frames receiving damage as well. Even double-glazed windows can crack or break from strong winds. It is best if you replace window glass that cracks as it probably won’t stand up to future windy conditions.

What can 100 mph wind pick up?

With hurricane season rapidly approaching, it’s important to start preparing. Although the torrential downpours associated with tropical storms can be devastating on their own, the main event and the thing homeowners fret about most is the wind. But how high do winds need to get before you should start worrying? Not as high as you’d think.

0-25 mph – Winds this low are unlikely to cause any notable damage.25-50 mph – At this point, you may see shingles begin to be blown off. Especially on aging or damaged roofs. But for the most part, you’re still safe with wind speeds this low.50-75 mph – At 50+ MPH winds are officially classified as “damaging”. Shingles will be blown off. Tree limbs and other debris will be picked up. Damaged or water-saturated trees will start to fall.50 MPH may not seem like much, but you’re already getting into life-threatening territory.75-100 mph – As winds continue to pick up you’ll start to see more and more damage. Trees will be downed. Some mobile homes could be destroyed. Large projectiles will be picked up and tossed.100+ mph – When wind speeds get up to 100+ MPH you start to see major issues even in sturdy, well-built homes. You can expect to see extensive damage. Downed trees everywhere. Major damage will occur to your roof and your siding. Windows may be blown out.

At 100 MPH you’re “only” looking at a category two hurricane. Things get much, much worse beyond this point. Protecting Your Home Against Wind The wind is, quite literally, a force of nature. What can you do about that? You’re actually not helpless at all. There are a number of relatively simple things that you can do to protect your home against high winds.

Clean your yard – It’s often not the wind itself that’s doing the damage. It’s the debris it picks up. Make sure you keep your yard free of potential projectiles like lawn furniture and tree branches. Keep up on home maintenance – Maintaining your roof will help minimize shingle loss during high-wind events. Another area to pay attention to is your garage door. The garage door is already a weak point during storms, so if yours is already compromised make sure you get it fixed ASAP. Get a wind mitigation inspection – A wind mitigation inspection goes over nearly every facet of your home looking for weaknesses, As a little bonus, it can also save you money on your homeowner’s insurance via wind mitigation credits.

The bottom line is that it doesn’t take much wind to cause serious damage to your home. Especially if you aren’t prepared. By getting a wind mitigation inspection you’ll be able to pinpoint the weak spots of your home and shore them up against wind before any major storms arrive.

What are normal wind speeds?

What Is Normal Wind Speed? – Normal wind speed refers to the average wind speed of a given location over a while. It is different from high wind speed, which is a gust of wind that lasts for a short time. Normal wind speeds vary depending on the location and time of year. In general, the highest wind speeds are found in the spring and early summer months.

  1. Wind speed is measured in miles per hour, meters per second, or knots.
  2. It’s important to know what units you’re measuring when you’re calculating wind speeds because different units can mean different things.
  3. For example, if you use miles per hour to calculate your wind speed, your results will accurate only on one condition.

And that is if they were collected while the weather station was located at sea level. Normal wind speed is about 10 mph for most of the United States, but it can go as high as 30 mph in some places. If you’re at sea and there are no other weather factors, the normal wind speed is 3-8 knots (3-8 miles per hour).

What are the 7 winds?

I got a special order to write up the Seven Winds that are Principalities in Ben-Derek Hayes’ “Chromatic Books of Horrors & Heroes,” as defined in his cosmology, which comes from the Byzantium Notebook. You can find a description of that cosmology here,

  • Since, you know, I DO create these articles for money, I was only too happy to slip this way forward in the schedule and put it on Friday (which you’d normally get a much shorter article) in return for money.
  • All art in this article is by warmtail.
  • As a concept, “The Seven Winds” is often used to refer to all the people of the world, or all the places of the world.

Someone wishing to tell a captive no one can hear them might say “Shout to the Seven Winds if you wish, for none will answer,” while a veteran sailor might brag she’s “Had all the Seven Winds fill my fails, on one voyage or another.” Secrets are sometimes “Whispered only to the Seven Winds” to indicate they’ll get out eventually, and a tyrant might claim “My grasp exceeds even that of the Seven Winds themselves.” The winds are also seen as powerful forces of fate and destiny, and someone might well be said to be “born into” a given wind, while those who seem to choose a specific trait might be said to be “blown by” a given wind.