The Wind Is Picking Up Speed — in Some Places Far More Than Others. See Where the Wind is Getting Stronger in the U.S.

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You may have noticed it – a little more sway in the trees, a sharper tug on your coat, a few more leaves circling in the air. The wind feels like it’s getting stronger, and the data agrees.

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After decades of decline, average wind speeds are rising again. While scientists once blamed global stilling on land-based changes like taller buildings and increased surface drag, researchers have found that long-standing ocean-atmosphere oscillations – invisible tides of pressure and temperature swinging over decades – may be a larger causal factor in changing wind speeds.

New data shows that changes in wind speeds around the world are far from uniform, and have a complex relationship with rising temperatures. A changing climate may mean faster winds in some areas and slower winds in others. Even in the United States, there is high variability, with wind speeds rising in portions of the South and Ohio Valley and falling in portions of the Northeast. A look at historic wind gust data reveals the counties where wind speeds are rising the fastest.

To determine the counties where wind speeds are rising the fastest, Climate Crisis 247 reviewed data on historical wind patterns from the Storm Prediction Center of the NOAA’s National Weather Service. Counties were ranked based on the average annual change in the speed of wind gust events from 1950 to 2023. Only counties with at least 10 reported wind gust events were considered.

25. Sullivan County, PA

• Avg. annual increase in wind gust speed, 1950-2023: +0.33 mph per year
• Avg. speed of wind gust events: 59.68 mph
• County seat: Laporte

 

24. Todd County, KY

• Avg. annual increase in wind gust speed, 1950-2023: +0.33 mph per year
• Avg. speed of wind gust events: 67.63 mph
• County seat: Elkton

 

23. Calhoun County, AR

• Avg. annual increase in wind gust speed, 1950-2023: +0.33 mph per year
• Avg. speed of wind gust events: 61.11 mph
• County seat: Hampton

 

22. Adair County, OK

• Avg. annual increase in wind gust speed, 1950-2023: +0.33 mph per year
• Avg. speed of wind gust events: 66.88 mph
• County seat: Stilwell

 

21. Spencer County, IN

• Avg. annual increase in wind gust speed, 1950-2023: +0.33 mph per year
• Avg. speed of wind gust events: 64.94 mph
• County seat: Rockport

 

20. Hamilton County, IL

• Avg. annual increase in wind gust speed, 1950-2023: +0.34 mph per year
• Avg. speed of wind gust events: 64.37 mph
• County seat: McLeansboro

 

19. Iberville Parish, LA

• Avg. annual increase in wind gust speed, 1950-2023: +0.34 mph per year
• Avg. speed of wind gust events: 61.67 mph
• County seat: Plaquemine

 

18. Polk County, AR

• Avg. annual increase in wind gust speed, 1950-2023: +0.35 mph per year
• Avg. speed of wind gust events: 60.72 mph
• County seat: Mena

 

17. Montour County, PA

• Avg. annual increase in wind gust speed, 1950-2023: +0.35 mph per year
• Avg. speed of wind gust events: 60.03 mph
• County seat: Danville

 

16. Calloway County, KY

• Avg. annual increase in wind gust speed, 1950-2023: +0.35 mph per year
• Avg. speed of wind gust events: 65.71 mph
• County seat: Murray

 

15. Carlisle County, KY

• Avg. annual increase in wind gust speed, 1950-2023: +0.36 mph per year
• Avg. speed of wind gust events: 63.37 mph
• County seat: Bardwell

 

14. Cleveland County, AR

• Avg. annual increase in wind gust speed, 1950-2023: +0.37 mph per year
• Avg. speed of wind gust events: 62.43 mph
• County seat: Rison

 

13. Monroe County, AR

• Avg. annual increase in wind gust speed, 1950-2023: +0.38 mph per year
• Avg. speed of wind gust events: 61.20 mph
• County seat: Clarendon

 

12. Cleburne County, AR

• Avg. annual increase in wind gust speed, 1950-2023: +0.38 mph per year
• Avg. speed of wind gust events: 61.47 mph
• County seat: Heber Springs

 

11. Johnson County, IL

• Avg. annual increase in wind gust speed, 1950-2023: +0.38 mph per year
• Avg. speed of wind gust events: 62.79 mph
• County seat: Vienna

 

10. Schleicher County, TX

• Avg. annual increase in wind gust speed, 1950-2023: +0.41 mph per year
• Avg. speed of wind gust events: 67.40 mph
• County seat: Eldorado

 

9. Warrick County, IN

• Avg. annual increase in wind gust speed, 1950-2023: +0.41 mph per year
• Avg. speed of wind gust events: 64.90 mph
• County seat: Boonville

 

8. Decatur County, TN

• Avg. annual increase in wind gust speed, 1950-2023: +0.45 mph per year
• Avg. speed of wind gust events: 62.63 mph
• County seat: Decaturville

 

7. Edwards County, TX

• Avg. annual increase in wind gust speed, 1950-2023: +0.47 mph per year
• Avg. speed of wind gust events: 62.46 mph
• County seat: Rocksprings

 

6. East Feliciana Parish, LA

• Avg. annual increase in wind gust speed, 1950-2023: +0.47 mph per year
• Avg. speed of wind gust events: 61.50 mph
• County seat: Clinton

 

5. Dallas County, AR

• Avg. annual increase in wind gust speed, 1950-2023: +0.48 mph per year
• Avg. speed of wind gust events: 61.19 mph
• County seat: Fordyce

 

4. Austin County, TX

• Avg. annual increase in wind gust speed, 1950-2023: +0.49 mph per year
• Avg. speed of wind gust events: 64.54 mph
• County seat: Bellville

 

3. Menominee County, WI

• Avg. annual increase in wind gust speed, 1950-2023: +0.52 mph per year
• Avg. speed of wind gust events: 62.19 mph
• County seat: Keshena

 

2. Madison County, AR

• Avg. annual increase in wind gust speed, 1950-2023: +0.52 mph per year
• Avg. speed of wind gust events: 67.22 mph
• County seat: Huntsville

 

1. St. Helena Parish, LA

• Avg. annual increase in wind gust speed, 1950-2023: +0.93 mph per year
• Avg. speed of wind gust events: 62.78 mph
• County seat: Greensburg

 

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