Extreme Winds

Wind is the movement of air from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure. The greater the difference in pressure, the stronger the wind. Usually, winds at ground level are slowed down by friction.

Types of Wind

Trade Winds
Trade winds are winds that blow from high-pressure belts to low-pressure belts. Historically, trading ships used these winds to navigate around the world. Mt. Washington is one of the windiest places on Earth, with winds reaching up to 372 km/h, because it acts as a barrier to the westerly trade winds.

Katabatic Winds
Katabatic winds are caused by air flowing downhill. In Antarctica, large ice sheets sloping gently into the sea contribute to wind speeds of over 320 km/h.

Jet Streams
Jet streams are very strong winds high in the atmosphere, as there is little to slow them down. Wind speeds of 225 km/h have been recorded on Mt. Everest because it reaches up into the jet stream. Most climbers attempt to summit Everest in May when the jet stream usually moves south, making the winds less fierce and the climb safer.

Other Sources of Wind

Tornadoes and Tropical Storms
Tornadoes and tropical storms are highly intense rotating winds that originate from smaller storm systems but can escalate to extreme speeds.

Tornadoes Tornadoes are relatively small compared to tropical storms and can form over both land and sea. They are highly dangerous, with wind speeds reaching up to 400 km/h. For instance, the Moore tornado in Oklahoma had winds up to 340 km/h and resulted in 24 fatalities in May 2013. In areas like ‘Tornado Alley,’ many residents construct underground shelters or reinforced rooms to protect themselves during tornadoes.

Tropical Storms
Tropical storms are larger than tornadoes and tend to weaken upon making landfall. The highest wind speed on record, 408 km/h, occurred on Barrow Island during Hurricane Olivia in 1996.

The UK’s Strongest Winds
The UK’s most powerful winds are typically observed on mountain peaks, especially in the western regions. However, strong gusts also occur in coastal areas like Cornwall, where the lack of friction over the sea allows winds to maintain high speeds.