ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Part of my role is to identify weather patterns that are either trending or unusual, and one of the most notable features of our recent weather has been the wind. Many viewers of News10NBC would likely agree that persistent and occasionally extreme wind events have stood out over the past several weeks.
A chart of wind observations from Rochester International Airport over the last 30 days shows both the average wind speed and the daily peak wind gusts. While the volume of data is substantial, it clearly highlights the significant day-to-day variability in wind conditions. To simplify the analysis, we can focus specifically on the maximum wind gusts recorded during January.
On January 1, the peak wind gust reached 36 miles per hour. Wind speeds gradually diminished during the first week of the month before increasing again around January 7. The most significant wind event occurred on January 9 and 10, when peak gusts reached 64 miles per hour.
Wind speeds of this magnitude can have tangible impacts, including downed trees and power outages. Even more modest gusts near 30 miles per hour are strong enough to displace unsecured objects such as trash cans. Gusts approaching 65 miles per hour can destabilize an average adult standing upright, while gusts near 90 miles per hour are capable of moving a small vehicle. During such conditions, drivers should maintain firm control of the steering wheel and remain alert for sudden wind shifts.
These events serve as a reminder of the power of wind and the importance of monitoring and preparing for high-wind conditions when they occur.
The post First Alert Weather In-Depth: Recent wind events highlight weather variability appeared first on WHEC.com.
