Think you know which place in America deserves the title of “Windy City”? Well, think again. Though the moniker is widely used to refer to Chicago, when it comes to average wind speed, the numbers tell a different story. There is no doubt the kaleidoscopic city by Lake Michigan, home to 77 vibrant neighborhoods packed with great eats and cool shops, is capable of packing a breeze. But with an average of just 10.3 mph, it doesn’t even make the top 10 of windiest U.S. cities.
Ahead of Illinois’ largest metropolis are cities that consistently score wind speeds of 11 mph and above (measured on an annual basis), from mountainous Wyoming and lake-encased Buffalo, to ocean-side Massachusetts. For this round-up, we focused only on average wind speed, so one-off wind events and storms have not been taken into consideration. We also focused primarily on medium-large cities (between 50,000 and 700,000 inhabitants).
We narrowed down the five windiest cities by following the U.S. Climate Normals data provided by NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). As the statistics only cover the period from 1991 up to 2020, we supplemented our research with data from the past five years, including data from ClimateandWeather.net and Weather Spark. While some cities will generate very little surprise, a few with famed heat or even tropical conditions may just sweep you off your feet.
Cheyenne, Wyoming
From its location on a high-elevation plateau, Cheyenne is an ideal candidate for windy spells. Indeed, its annual average wind speed of 14.6 mph puts it right at the top of the windiest U.S. cities. The largest city in Wyoming, Cheyenne has a rich history tied to “Old West” traditions and the cattle ranching and railroad industries, key cultural staples that survive today in the city’s heritage. You can learn more about Old West heritage at the Wyoming State Museum, or relive the olden days by visiting the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum, the world’s largest outdoor rodeo, and a great historic attraction celebrating the Wild West…