Does your hometown constantly suffer from the type of wind that stops you in your tracks and blows you back? Read on to see if it is included on the list of the windiest cities in the world.
Windy has a particularly ambiguous definition, as quantifying wind speed can take different forms. For example, there are gusts of wind at ground level and in the sky, while places with fast averages of wind do not often experience significant gusts.
However, perhaps the easiest barometer for a selection like this is how blustery the wind is. That feeling of the wind hitting you in the face and even dragging you back.
From across all continents and every corner of the globe, we have compiled a list of the top 20 windiest cities in the world, ranked.
20. Aviemore, Scotland – recorded Scotland’s strongest-ever winds
At the snowy summit of Cairngorm in Aviemore, winds have been recorded up to 173mph (278km/h).
19. Shetland Islands, Scotland – between Scotland and the Faroe Islands
This tiny archipelago in Scotland, according to the Met Office, is the UK’s windiest spot. It has an average annual wind speed of 15mph (24km/h).
18. Torshavn, Faroe Islands – windy throughout the year
Not far from the previous entry, Torshavn is next on our list. The Faroe Islands tend to be generally windy and cloudy year-round.
17. Cape Point, South Africa – South Africa’s windiest region
Cape Point is the windiest region in South Africa. The annual average wind speed is 14.1 m/s.
16. Reykjavik, Iceland – one of the windiest cities in the world
Next on our list of the windiest cities in the world is Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland. With city living comes wind, with wind speeds up to 10-15 mph (16-24km/h).
15. Ab-Paran, Afghanistan – wind speed of over 200mph
A wind speed of around 204mph (328km/h) was once recorded in Ab-Paran, making it a sure addition to the list of windiest cities in the world.
14. Cape Blanco, Oregon, USA – worse during the winter storms
During the extreme winter storms in Cape Blanco, winds can reach up to between 70-100 mph (112-160 km/h).
13. Yigo, Guam – a blustery location
The windiest time of the year here is between October and May, with average wind speeds of 13.8mph (22.2km/h).
12. Perth, Australia – different figures from different sources
One of the most commonly-referenced windiest cities in the world is Perth. Different sources rank it differently, but it has an average annual wind speed of 10mph (16.1km/h).
11. Boston, Massachusetts, USA – debatably the windiest in America
On the east coast of America, Boston earns a spot on the list of the windiest cities in the world. It has an average wind speed of 12.3 mph (19.8km/h).
10. Mount Washington, New Hampshire, USA – fast surface wind
Granted, not a city. However, Mount Washington holds the record for the fast surface wind measured in the entire Northern and Western Hemispheres.
9. Barrow Island, Australia – highest wind speed not caused by a tornado
This city takes the award and holds the Guinness World Record for the highest wind speed not caused by a tornado. During Tropical Cyclone Olivia in 1996, the island recorded winds of 253mph (407km/h).
8. Bridge Creek, Oklahoma, USA – recorded the world’s fastest tornado
The highest wind speed recorded in Bridge Creek, a suburb of Oklahoma City, exceeded an incredible 300mph (482km/h) during a tornado.
7. Baku, Azerbaijan – City of Winds
Next on our list of the windiest cities in the world is Baku, with average wind speeds of 11.1mph (17.9km/h). It is known as the “City of Winds”.
6. Gruissan, France – fierce winds over 300 days of the year
Slightly above Baku at 11.2mph (18km/h) is Gruissan, France. Winds known as Tramontane cause strong winds here.
5. St John’s, Newfoundland, Canada – windiest place in Canada
With an average annual wind speed of 13.1mph (21km/h), this is the windiest place in Canada. It records gusts of over 30mph (48km/h) 50 days of the year.
4. Punta Arenas, Chile – in the crosshairs of the windy Patagonia region
14.5mph (23km/h) is the average wind speed in this region of South America. Ropes have had to be tied to buildings to people can hold onto them during extreme gusts.
3. Dodge City, Kansas, USA – near the tornado alley
Third on our list of the windiest cities in the world is Dodge City in Kanas, with average annual wind speed of 15mph (24km/h). Kansas City itself sits in the “tornado alley”.
2. Rio Gallegos, Argentina – southern tip of the world
With an average annual wind speed of 15.3mph (24.6km/h), Rio Gallegos is second on our list of the windiest cities in the world. December sees gusts of up to 30mph (48.3km/h).
1. Wellington, New Zealand – the windiest city in the world
Wellington City is the windiest city in the world, with an average annual wind speed of 16mph (25.7km/h). Its winds are known as the “Roaring Forties” as the city sits between 40 and 50 degrees south of the equator.
Other notable mentions
Antarctica: Measuring the wind at the bottom of the world is very difficult. However, Antarctica has the fastest katabatic wind in the world at 168 mph.
Chicago: It doesn’t even make the top ten windiest cities in the US! However, it earns an honourable mention due to its nickname, ‘the Windy City’. It also narrowly missed out on the list of the most modern cities in the world.
Kirkwood, California: Registered winds of 209mph in 2020, a new record.
Amarillo, Texas: Amarillo is known as the windiest city in the US.
Your questions answered about the windiest cities in the world
Is Wellington really the windiest city in the world?
Yes. The greatest-ever gale recorded in Wellington was 125mph (201km/h) at the peak of Mount Kaukau.
Why is Wellington so windy?
The most southernly capital city in the world sits 40 to 50 degrees south of the equator, and it is located beside the Cook Strait.
What’s the least windy city in the world?
Catalina Foothills in Arizona, USA. It has an average wind speed of a mere 1.1mph (1.7km/h).
