The perception of Boston as an exceptionally windy city is common, often placing it mentally at the top of the list for blustery US locations. This belief is likely due to the city’s notoriously intense coastal storms and cold winter gusts. To determine where Boston truly ranks, we must examine meteorological data. This analysis focuses on average annual wind speed, the standard metric used by weather scientists to compare the overall windiness of different locations.
Boston’s Average Wind Speed and Ranking
Boston is consistently ranked among the windiest large metropolitan areas in the United States, but it does not claim the top spot overall. Meteorological records compiled by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) indicate that Boston’s average annual wind speed is approximately 12.3 miles per hour (mph). This speed places it ahead of many other major cities, including Chicago, which typically records an average of around 10.3 mph.
The city’s high ranking among large population centers reflects its continuous, sustained wind flow, rather than just infrequent, powerful gusts. Boston’s location on the Atlantic Ocean exposes it directly to powerful winter Nor’easters. These extratropical cyclones bring heavy winds from the northeast and significantly boost the annual average wind speed, particularly during the windiest months of February and March.
While Boston frequently appears near the top of lists comparing the windiest major US cities, its average speed is surpassed by several smaller cities and remote locations. The sustained 12.3 mph average confirms Boston is exceptionally windy. However, the absolute windiest places in the US are typically found elsewhere.
The Cities That Consistently Rank Highest
The cities that register the highest average annual wind speeds in the US are typically not the well-known metropolitan areas, but rather smaller cities or remote locations with unique geographical exposure. The windiest city in the continental United States is often cited as Dodge City, Kansas, with an average annual speed recorded near 15 mph. This constant, high-speed airflow is a function of its position within the Great Plains region.
Another city that consistently outranks Boston is Amarillo, Texas, located in the blustery Texas Panhandle, which logs an average annual wind speed of approximately 13.6 mph. The constant high wind speeds in these plains cities reflect a fundamental difference in weather patterns compared to coastal cities like Boston. Their windiness is driven by continental air masses and large-scale atmospheric circulation, rather than localized coastal storms.
It is helpful to differentiate between average wind speed and maximum gust speed, as the two metrics measure different phenomena. Average wind speed, used for these rankings, is the sustained speed over a long period, representing the city’s overall windiness. In contrast, maximum gust speed records the highest momentary burst of wind, which occurs during a severe but brief storm. For instance, Boston has recorded gusts as high as 90 mph during a bomb cyclone, but this extreme event does not reflect the city’s day-to-day conditions.
When including all US locations, the absolute highest average wind speeds are often measured at remote sites, particularly in Alaska. Cold Bay, Alaska, registers an average speed around 16.1 mph, and St. Paul Island, Alaska, is close behind at 15.5 mph. These high averages are attributed to their extreme exposure to the Bering Sea and frequent, intense winter storm systems.
Geographical and Urban Factors that Increase Wind
The underlying reason some cities are significantly windier than others lies in the interaction between global weather systems and local geography and architecture. Topography plays a substantial role, especially in the central US, where cities like Dodge City are situated on the relatively flat expanse of the Great Plains. The absence of natural barriers allows air masses to move freely and accelerate across hundreds of miles of flat terrain before reaching the city.
The influence of large geographical features is also evident in the Texas Panhandle, where westerly winds descend from the Rocky Mountains. As air flows down the eastern side of the mountains, it generates persistent low-pressure systems. This leads to strong, consistent wind speeds in cities like Amarillo, creating a powerful, sustained wind pattern distinct from coastal factors.
Proximity to large bodies of water significantly impacts coastal cities, as seen in Boston’s exposure to the Atlantic Ocean. The temperature difference between the ocean and the land creates pressure gradients that generate strong breezes. This also serves as a pathway for powerful coastal storms, such as Nor’easters, resulting in high average wind speeds.
Within any densely populated area, the physical structures of the city can locally amplify wind speed through the “urban canyon” effect. When wind flows between tall buildings, the air is funneled into a narrower space, causing it to accelerate dramatically (the Venturi effect). Additionally, wind striking a skyscraper facade is often deflected downward to the street level. This creates powerful, localized gusts that make the city feel windier to pedestrians than meteorological data suggests.