Finding the windiest place on Earth is not as simple as recording the highest wind speed. Some locations experience strong winds throughout the year, while others are known for extreme gusts during storms. Measurements also differ depending on whether scientists record winds near the ground or high above it during tornadoes.
This makes it difficult to compare locations using a single wind-speed record. Still, several places stand out for their persistent winds, unusual weather conditions and extreme gusts.
Here are 10 of the world’s windiest places and what makes them so exposed to strong winds.
1. Wellington, New Zealand: World’s Windiest City
Wellington is widely recognised as one of the windiest cities in the world. Its location between the Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea exposes it to strong westerly winds. The narrow Cook Strait further funnels these air currents, increasing their speed as they pass through the region.
The winds are associated with a weather belt known as the Roaring Forties, which stretches between 40 and 50 degrees south of the equator. Wind speeds on the ground vary between 5.5 and 11.5 mph on average, while Mount Kaukau records an annual average of 27.3 mph. The strongest gust recorded on the hill reached 125 mph. Wellington also uses its wind resources to generate electricity. The city has even installed a waterfront sculpture, Solace in the Wind, depicting a person leaning into the breeze.
2. Antarctica: The World’s Strongest Katabatic Winds
Antarctica is known for extreme winds that make conditions difficult for people working on the continent. Measuring these winds is challenging because instruments can freeze, become covered in ice or get damaged by blowing snow.
The continent holds the record for the fastest katabatic wind, a type of wind that travels downhill under the force of gravity. In 1912, Cape Denison in Commonwealth Bay recorded a speed of 168 mph. The region also experiences an annual average daily maximum wind speed of 44 mph, which falls within the gale-force category.
Antarctica’s cold temperatures and sloping landscape help create these powerful air currents. Dense, cold air moves down towards the coastline, sometimes producing blizzard conditions that continue for weeks.
3. Barrow Island, Australia: The Fastest Recorded Surface Wind
Barrow Island, off the northwest coast of Western Australia, holds the world record for the highest recorded wind speed not associated with a tornado.
During Tropical Cyclone Olivia in 1996, an unmanned weather station recorded a wind speed of 253 mph. The measurement was based on a three-second average and surpassed the previous record held by Mount Washington in the United States.
Barrow Island is also known for its oil and natural gas operations. At the same time, parts of the island support a conservation reserve that provides habitat for spectacled hare-wallabies, sea turtles, perentie lizards and other protected wildlife.
4. Mount Washington, New Hampshire: One of the Windiest Mountain Peaks
Mount Washington, a 6,000-foot peak in New Hampshire, has recorded some of the strongest winds measured at a weather station. In April 1934, observers recorded a gust of 231 mph, a world record that remained unbeaten for most of the 20th century.
Although Barrow Island later surpassed that record, Mount Washington remains one of the windiest locations in the United States. Its average annual wind speed is around 35 mph, while its strongest monthly peak gusts have reached 231 mph.
The mountain’s position within the White Mountains exposes it to several major storm tracks. Its peaks obstruct easterly winds, while weather systems from the Atlantic can interact with high-pressure systems over the interior. These conditions produce hurricane-force winds of more than 75 mph on the summit on over 100 days each year.
5. Dodge City, Kansas: Windiest City in United States
Chicago is popularly known as the Windy City, but its nickname has more to do with its political history than its weather. Several other American cities experience higher average wind speeds.
Dodge City in Kansas is often considered the windiest populated city in the country. Its average wind speed is around 15 mph. The city has a population of roughly 27,000, making it a significant settlement exposed to persistent winds.
Its location on the Great Plains plays an important role. Winds moving down from the Rocky Mountains towards the plains contribute to the city’s high average wind speed. A similar pattern affects Amarillo in Texas. Although Kansas lies within Tornado Alley, ordinary regional winds contribute more to Dodge City’s average than occasional tornadoes.
6. Baku, Azerbaijan: City of Winds
Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, is known as the City of Winds. The name has historical roots, with the settlement once described in Persian as the city of pounding wind.
Wind speeds in Baku average more than 11 mph for much of the year, with strong air currents arriving from two directions. Cold northerly winds blow across the Caspian Sea, while warmer southerly winds travel over land towards the city.
These patterns affect local temperatures. Northerly winds bring cooler conditions during summer, while southerly winds can make winter temperatures warmer. Baku also experiences air pollution, and its frequent winds help disperse some of the pollutants. The city lies 92 feet below sea level, with relatively few geographical barriers to obstruct the air currents.
7. St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador: Canada’s Windiest City
St. John’s, the capital of Newfoundland and Labrador, is known for its challenging weather. Its position along the North Atlantic exposes it to strong winds, frequent fog, rain and snowfall.
The city has an average annual wind speed exceeding 13 mph. Gusts above 30 mph occur on almost 50 days each year, earning St. John’s a reputation as Canada’s windiest major city. Its coastal location also exposes it to changing weather systems moving across the Atlantic.
Despite its strong winds and cold winter conditions, the city is considered to have one of Canada’s more temperate climates, behind Vancouver and Victoria.
8. Scotland: Europe’s Windiest Country
Scotland is known for its strong winds, particularly along its western coastline. Its exposure to the Atlantic Ocean brings frequent low-pressure systems, which produce powerful winds during much of the year.
Average wind speeds range between 10 and 18 mph, with the strongest gusts generally recorded in western Scotland. Some coastal areas experience around 25 days of gale-force winds annually. Winter brings the strongest conditions as Atlantic depressions move towards the country.
Scotland’s wind conditions have also supported the growth of its wind energy sector. The country has become a major centre for wind power, using its coastal and offshore resources to generate electricity.
9. Patagonia, Chile and Argentina: Where People Hold Ropes to Walk
The Patagonia region of southern Chile and Argentina is exposed to strong westerly winds associated with the Roaring Forties. The cities of Punta Arenas in Chile and Río Gallegos in Argentina regularly experience powerful gusts.
Punta Arenas lies close to the southern tip of South America. Winds reaching 80 mph are not uncommon, particularly during summer. Conditions can become so difficult that authorities have installed ropes between some buildings to help pedestrians hold on while walking through exposed areas. Its proximity to the ocean helps keep temperatures relatively moderate.
In Río Gallegos, the average annual wind speed is around 15.7 mph, with stronger winds during summer. These air currents also help keep average summer temperatures below 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
10. Oklahoma, United States: Some of Fastest Tornado Winds
Oklahoma is part of Tornado Alley, a region in the central United States where powerful tornadoes frequently develop. Some of the highest wind speeds recorded during tornado activity have occurred in this state.
A tornado that struck Bridge Creek, near Oklahoma City, in 1999 produced estimated wind speeds of around 300 mph. Scientists measured these speeds using Doppler radar. The reading surpassed an earlier radar measurement of 286 mph recorded during a tornado near Red Rock, Oklahoma, in 1991.
Another tornado near El Reno, Oklahoma, in 2013 reached almost three miles in width and produced winds approaching 300 mph. These measurements differ from conventional surface wind records. The World Meteorological Organization does not accept Doppler radar readings as official surface wind records, which is why Barrow Island retains the record for the highest recorded surface wind speed.
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