Gone with the wind The windiest places on earth

Data recorded in meteorological stations show that some parts of the globe are permanently exposed to winds of devastating speed. The wind speed in these areas sometimes exceeds 400 km/h; Figures that go beyond our usual notions of severe storms and challenge even the strongest structures. (Love Exploring)

Although the official record is held elsewhere, the suburb of Oklahoma City was the site of the strongest wind gust ever recorded at 300 miles per hour in May 1999.

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The wind record in Oklahoma City was recorded by a mobile radar during one of the region’s most powerful tornadoes. Although “Guinness” accepted it, because the radar measurement method is not the official meteorological standard, it is not recognized in the scientific community as the main and official world wind record.

Barrow Island in Australia, which holds the official record for the world’s fastest non-tornado wind, experienced a speed of 408 km/h during Cyclone Olivia in April 1996.

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While other storms may have had stronger pressure, Barrow Island has the strongest instantaneous gust on record. The strange thing is that despite this scary record, the average wind speed in this marine park is only 19 km/h on normal days and the weather is relatively mild.

The peak of Mount Washington in America, which held the world record for more than 60 years, witnessed a wind speed of 372 kilometers per hour in 1934, which was recorded by the staff of the “Mount Washington” observatory.

Photographer: Rudy Mareel/Shutterstock

The area is in the path of multiple hurricanes and still experiences hurricane-force winds more than 100 days a year. Although his world record was broken; But with high average speeds throughout the year, it still ranks as the windiest spot in the United States.

In February 2020, the state of California saw a new record set at Kirkwood Mountain, and a wind speed of 336 km/h broke the previous record for the area.

Photographer: George Rose/Getty Images

This powerful storm closed ski resorts and created high waves on the always calm surface of “Lake Tahoe”. The winds at this 2,800-meter high were part of a widespread storm system that battered the West Coast and showed unprecedented strength.

The highest point of the earth, Mount Everest, witnessed a wind speed of 282 km/h in February 2004, which is twice as strong as a five-degree sea storm.

Photographer: Vixit / Shutterstock

Climbing this peak in winter is almost impossible and very dangerous due to continuous winds over 160 km/h. Mountaineers usually choose the months of May and September to climb; Because during these times the weather is calmer and there are no such deadly storms.

In March 1986, the mountain town of Aviemore recorded a gust of 278 km/h and became the British record.

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The intensity of the cold and wind at the top of one of the mountains in this city is such that it can bruise a person’s face. Although many years later a claim of 312 km/h wind was made there, the record was never made official due to the erasure of the anemometer data and the lack of a printed document.

Shetland Islands is the windiest place in Britain and in 1986 it recorded a gust of 278 km/h.

Photographer: Bildagentur Zoonar GmbH / Shutterstock

The wind intensity in this area was so high that the measuring device was destroyed by the same storm moments after setting the record. Although the average annual wind here is mild; But in winters, storms blow with destructive power, and the only shelter for the inhabitants is the low valleys between the hills.

The city of “Wellington” (Wellington) of New Zealand has the title of the world’s windiest capital, and the average wind speed is 47 kilometers per hour, which makes traffic difficult.

Photographer: Milosz Maslanka/Shutterstock

The terrible record of 248 km/h was recorded in 1341 at Hawkins Hill. The main reason for these constant winds is the air flow passing through a narrow channel between two islands, which acts like a natural funnel and increases the wind speed.

The “Cape Blanco” region experienced a wind speed of 233 km/h during the famous “Columbus Day storm” in October 1962.

Photographer: Maralee Park / Shutterstock

This cape, which is known for being windy, is equipped with a powerful lighthouse due to the dangers caused by the wind and the possibility of shipwrecks. Even in normal winters without big storms, winds with a speed of 113 km/h constantly blow in this area.

The “Commonwealth Bay” region is known as the windiest place in the world, where cold and heavy winds always flow. The official wind speed record here was set in 1995 at 204 km/h, although older explorers have reported higher numbers. Cold and heavy air flows down from the heights with the acceleration of gravity and creates huge blizzards and vortices.

Photographer: ENVIROSENSE / Shutterstock

If you had the opportunity to travel to one of these areas and experience these strong winds up close, what would you choose? Write your opinion for us and other audience.

Cover photo source: Shutterstock Photographer: Oleksandr Kotenko