10 Windiest Places in the United States
Where is the windiest place in the US?
Today, we count down the 10 windiest places in the United States. Each one is known for its exceptionally high wind speeds.
You’re going to see a lot of different results online. But we are using NOAA’s NCEI wind speeds with monthly averages.
| Name | State | Wind Speed (mph) |
|---|---|---|
| Mt. Washington | NH | 35.8 |
| Cold Bay | AK | 16.0 |
| St. Paul Island | AK | 15.5 |
| Lihue | HI | 13.3 |
| Dodge City | KS | 13.1 |
| Amarillo | TX | 12.9 |
| Kahului | HI | 12.8 |
| Barrow | AK | 12.6 |
| Cheyenne | WY | 12.2 |
| Goodland | KS | 12.1 |
Mount Washington, New Hampshire
Mount Washington holds the title of the windiest place in the United States. Its peak sees extreme winds, sometimes over 230 miles per hour. They set this record back in April 1934.
The mountain’s unique shape acts like a colossal funnel. This natural funnel effect dramatically accelerates the wind. With an average of 35.8 mph, it’s the windiest place in the United States. See it for yourself in this BBC documentary.
Cold Bay, Alaska
Cold Bay, Alaska, is the second windiest place because of its spot in the Aleutian Islands. The islands sit in a path where cold air from the Arctic meets warm air from the Pacific. This clash creates strong, constant winds.
The area’s geography, with mountains and seas, also funnels the wind, making it faster. So, Cold Bay gets windy with an average of 16 mph speeds.
Windiest Cities in the United States
How about major cities in the United States? Where do they rank for windiest? Here is a table with the 10 windiest major cities:
| City | State | Wind Speed (mph) |
|---|---|---|
| Corpus Christi | TX | 11.7 |
| Wichita | KS | 11.5 |
| Boston | MA | 11.5 |
| Oklahoma City | OK | 11.3 |
| New York | NY | 11.2 |
| San Francisco | CA | 10.5 |
| Honolulu | HI | 10.3 |
| Kansas City | MO | 10.3 |
| Buffalo | NY | 10.3 |
| Milwaukee | WI | 10.1 |
| Chicago | IL | 9.9 |
What About the Windy City, Chicago?
Despite its nickname as the “Windy City”, Chicago is not the windiest city in the United States by wind speed measurements. Cities like Boston, San Francisco, and New York record higher average wind speeds throughout the year.
Chicago’s average wind speed is about 9.9 miles per hour, which is brisk but not extreme. Nonetheless, the city can experience stronger winds. This is due to changing weather patterns, reinforcing its windy reputation to some extent.
Where Is the Windiest Place on Earth?
Where is the windiest place on Earth? The windiest place on Earth is commonly considered to be Commonwealth Bay in Antarctica. The area is known for its katabatic winds, which can reach speeds up to 200 miles per hour (320 kilometers per hour).
These winds occur when cold, dense air flows downhill from the Antarctic plateau toward the sea. Commonwealth Bay’s geography is unique with cliffs that funnel the winds through a narrow space. This accelerates wind speeds, making it an exceptionally windy location.
Bridge Creek, Oklahoma
Bridge Creek, Oklahoma is a small town situated in the heart of Tornado Alley. This small town gained national attention on May 3, 1999, when it was hit by one of the most powerful tornadoes ever recorded.
The tornado was rated an F5 on the Fujita scale. It brought winds estimated at over 300 miles per hour. This was one of the highest wind speeds ever measured on Earth. Because of its tornados, Bridge Creek is no stranger to devastating winds.
