Are you wondering what is considered high wind speed? Well, relax, this article is here for you.
Wind speed is a measurement of the amount of kinetic energy in the wind.
Wind gusts are defined as the speed of the wind in one minute at any given point.
Typically it is measured and reported in miles per hour or kilometers per hour.
In the United States, the National Weather Service defines high wind as any sustained wind speed of at least 40 miles per hour (mph) or gusts of 58 mph or more. Winds this strong can bring down trees, damage your building structure, and uproot power lines.
Why Do You Need High Wind?
In today’s world, high winds are a fact of life. In fact, they can be so inconvenient that we often don’t even notice them until they start causing problems.
Like when they blow away, your trash can lid or send your car skidding across the parking lot.
But there are also some benefits to living in an area with a lot of wind:
Benefit #1: It Can Help Keep Your Home Cool
If you’re looking for a way to keep your home cool, high winds can help.
High winds can blow hot air out of your home, allowing cooler air to flow in.
This works best if there’s a breeze outside. If the weather is particularly hot, you can even open up windows to get some cross-ventilation going!
Benefit #2: It Helps Keep Pesky Insects Away
High winds are also great for keeping pesky insects like mosquitoes away from your outdoor space.
Mosquitoes are more likely to fly around when it’s warm out.
And they tend to be more active at dawn and dusk, which happens when the sun is low in the sky.
Benefit #3: It Assists Sailors
The wind is great for sailors! If you love going on boat rides but hate paying for gas, then this one’s for you!
Because wind moves across water faster than it does through air, boats use sails to harness the power of moving air currents.
By taking advantage of the winds, they can save money.
Why Don’t We Need High Wind?
The advantages of high wind are many, but there are also disadvantages to consider.
One of the most obvious disadvantages high winds can cause serious damage to your home or business.
If you live in an area with high winds, consider buying storm shutters or awnings for your windows and doors.
In addition, high winds can cause power outages and even affect the water supply in some areas, leaving you without electricity or water for an indefinite period. (or until the power company gets around to fixing it).
This can result in serious disruptions to your daily life, as well as pose a safety hazard.
If you live in an area prone to high winds, it is important to be prepared.
Tip: Make sure you have a plan in place in case of an emergency and know how to protect your home and property from wind damage.
Precautions To Stay Safe During High Winds
High wind can be a beautiful thing. But it can also be a nuisance and an inconvenience. High winds can cause damage to your home, property, and belongings.
They can also make it difficult to enjoy outdoor activities like grilling or hanging out on your patio.
If you live in an area with high winds, you’ll want to know how to protect yourself from the potential dangers that come along with them.
There are some tips you can take to stay safe.
Tip #1: Try To Stay Indoors If Possible
If you must go outside, avoid using umbrellas as they can be easily blown away by the wind.
Instead, wear a hat or hood to protect your head and face from debris that could be blown around by the wind.
Tip #2: Be Careful Of Downed Power Lines
If you see a downed power line, do not approach it or touch it. Call 911 immediately and wait for emergency personnel to arrive.
Tip #3: Avoid Driving In High Winds If Possible
If you must drive, keep your windows up and drive slowly so that you can better control your vehicle if it is blown around by the wind.
Tip #4: Be Aware Of Flying Debris
High winds can knock down branches and power lines, so be on the lookout for anything that could become a projectile and watch for signs of impending danger, such as debris.
Tip: If you see something unsafe, move to a safer location immediately.
By following these simple tips, you can stay safe during high winds.
What Is Normal Wind Speed?
Normal wind speed refers to the average wind speed of a given location over a while. It is different from high wind speed, which is a gust of wind that lasts for a short time.
Normal wind speeds vary depending on the location and time of year.
In general, the highest wind speeds are found in the spring and early summer months.
Wind speed is measured in miles per hour, meters per second, or knots.
It’s important to know what units you’re measuring when you’re calculating wind speeds because different units can mean different things.
For example, if you use miles per hour to calculate your wind speed, your results will accurate only on one condition.
And that is if they were collected while the weather station was located at sea level.
Normal wind speed is about 10 mph for most of the United States, but it can go as high as 30 mph in some places.
If you’re at sea and there are no other weather factors, the normal wind speed is 3-8 knots (3-8 miles per hour).
Tip: On land, normal wind speed is typically 5-10 mph.
Is It Better To Drive Fast Or Slow In High Winds?
When high winds are whipping across the roadways, it can be difficult to know whether it is better to drive fast or slow. There are pros and cons to both approaches.
Driving fast in high winds may help you avoid being blown off the road. If you keep your speed up, you will have more control over your vehicle.
However, driving too fast can be dangerous. You may not be able to see debris in the road, and if you hit something, it could cause serious damage.
Driving slow in high winds gives you more time to react if something does blow into your path. However, driving slowly can also be dangerous.
You may not be able to maintain control of your car at a lower speed, and other drivers may become impatient and try to pass you.
Tip: Driving slowly allows you to navigate around any obstacles more easily.
What Is Considered High Wind Speed?
Wind speed is a measure of how fast the wind is blowing. The Beaufort scale describes the relationship between wind speed and its effects on objects.
But it doesn’t define what is considered high wind speed.
A high wind speed is any wind that reaches or exceeds the threshold for a particular region.
This threshold is determined by local conditions, including the type of building, its location, and its height above ground level.
The various regions have different thresholds, which means they will each experience high winds at different speeds.
Note: Measuring wind speed is important because high speeds can cause damage to both people and property.
So, What Is Considered High Wind Speed km/h?
In general, high wind speeds are considered to be anything over 50 km/h. However, this can vary depending on the location and the type of terrain.
In some areas, high winds might only be considered to be speeds over 70 or even 80 km/h. In other areas, anything over 40 km/h could be considered high.
Of course, the definition of high wind speed is also relative.
For example, if you're used to living in an area with very little wind, anything over 20 km/h might feel quite high to you!
This is the point at which most standard construction materials and building practices are unable to resist the forces exerted by the wind.
Gusts of wind above 120 km/h can cause widespread structural damage and often lead to power outages as a result of downed trees and power lines.
What Other Disaster Can This Cause?
High wind speeds can cause property damage, as well as potentially injure or even kill people.
That’s why it’s important to be aware of the risks associated with high winds and to take precautions to protect yourself and your property.
If you’re ever in an area where high winds are expected, make sure to stay indoors as much as possible, and avoid being outside in open spaces.
If you must be outdoors, be sure to secure any loose items that could be blown away, and stay away from windows and doors.
Note: By taking these precautions, you can help to keep yourself and others safe during periods of high wind.
Conclusion
In conclusion, what is considered high wind speed can vary depending on the area you live in.
Generally, winds over 40 miles per hour are considered high winds.
High winds can cause damage to property and power outages. If you are ever in an area with high winds, be sure to stay indoors and away from windows.
Additionally, people living in areas with high wind speeds are more likely to be impacted by lightning events.