x
Breaking News
More () »

Is WNY getting windier?

Recent wind storms have grabbed headlines. They are a very common but there is not much data to suggest any trends

BUFFALO, N.Y. — WNY is a mecca for wind. Its location at the tip of Lake Erie, plus its unobstructed exposure to cold and warm air masses to the north and south, make it a region prone to high winds. 

When cold and warm air masses collide, areas of low pressure form and often travel from the southwest to the northeast along the jet stream through the Great Lakes Region. 

These low pressure areas stir up winds that can blow across the entire upper mid-west and Great Lakes regions all year, but especially in the spring and fall. These winds can get an added boost from Lake Erie as it serves to funnel the winds down its length which adds to the winds velocity. Which puts Buffalo in a perfect spot for strong wind events. 

Some may way wonder if these wind events are increasing over recent years.

Trends in temperature, rainfall and snowfall , easily seen as records, are kept at many different observation sights across the region.  In many cases, these records go back well over 100 years. 

Wind records are more challenging to find.

While daily wind measurements are recorded, its is unknown whether the wind on a certain was caused by a large area of low pressure, or something more localized like a thunderstorm. 

It's hard to know if an increase or decrease in wind frequency from one year to the next was due to an increase or decrease in the source of the wind. So, it's nearly impossible to know if there have been more areas of low pressure or wind storms over the past decades compared to the decades before it. 

This year, however,  has had less wind events compared to the past two years. Yet, it only takes one wind storm to make up up for a period of relative quiet. Last weekend's widespread 70mph gusts can attest to that.

Related

La Niña Advisory Update: How long the current event could last

Before You Leave, Check This Out