Boston Is One Of The Windiest Places In The Country

I never thought there was a significant difference between the weather patterns of New Jersey and Massachusetts. Sure, maybe the winters are a bit more harsh in Massachusetts, and the temperatures are slightly lower. But recently, I read in Redfin that Boston is one of the windiest cities in America, and now it is starting to make sense.

Last week, the winds along the south shore whipped for days. The sounds overnight were so loud the windows shook in every room of the house. Hockey nets tumbled over in the driveway, and I spent Sunday cleaning branches out of my backyard again. Five months ago, a single afternoon of heavy winds ripped the skylight out of my porch and sent it 40 yards deep into the woods.  In August of 2022, a massive oak tree fell in my front yard and landed on the roof of my house. The year before, the same thing happened to my neighbor. None of these incidents involved heavy rain or typical seasonal "storms." It was all wind.

Finally, I needed to know: what was going on here? Is this a coincidence? Well, as Redfin pointed out, there is data to prove that in 2024, Boston is, in fact, one of the windiest cities across the country. And here I thought Chicago was the "Windy City."

According to this report, Boston is the first major city among the top 10 windy places in America. Only smaller markets in Texas, Wichita, and Rochester, Minnesota rank above Boston. First, let's answer the burning question.

"Contrary to popular belief, Chicago is not the windiest city in the United States. That honor goes to Boston, Massachusetts, which boasts wind speeds that are regularly up to two miles per hour faster than Chicago’s," the Skydeck explains. They also point out the reason behind the Windy City nickname has a lot to do with politics going back to the late 1800's.

"The strongest storms come from the collision of cold Canadian air and warm air from the southern Atlantic, which bring heavy rain, snow, and wind as they move northward (from warm to cold)," Redfin states, detailing why Boston is so high on this list. Furthermore, they detail the average wind speed 11.5mph. The highest recorded was 90mp in 2019. For context, the windiest city according to this report is Amarillo, Texas, where the average wind speed is just slightly higher at 12.9mph.

Nobody likes dealing with severe weather. But, it's part of life. Depending on where you live in the United States, you might come up against hurricanes, tornados, severe thunderstorms, blizzards and more. I've certainly had my fair share of severe weather events. Probably my most vivid memory was being in an ice storm, which knocked power out for about a week where I lived, including during Christmas. It was freezing cold, so my family and I had to go to a hotel that was out of town. Needless to say, our Christmas plans were totally different that year. So, what are some severe weather safety tips that may safe your life?

Before we get to the main tips, let's get through some basics. Stay informed when a severe weather event is approaching. It's simple but important. You don't want to be caught off guard when bad weather strikes. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and National Weather Service both have information that they provide leading up to and during a severe weather event. So, make sure to get the latest information in the case of any weather emergency. Local meteorologists also have good information, but the main alerts come from the National Weather Service.

Another mistake some people make is not taking "watches" seriously. For example, you might see that there's a severe thunderstorm watch in your area and think, oh, it's just a watch, I can go out for a walk. Don't do it. "A watch is used when the risk of a hazardous weather or hydrologic event has increased significantly, but its occurrence, location or timing is still uncertain," the National Weather Service explains. We'll get more into the specifics of a watch, warning and advisory later in this story.

Let's get into some severe weather safety tips that may safe your life.

A weather advisory, watch and warning all need to be taken seriously. So, what do they mean? According to the National Weather Service, "a warning is issued when a hazardous weather or hydrologic event is occurring, imminent or likely." A watch is where "the risk of a hazardous weather or hydrologic event has increased significantly, but its occurrence, location or timing is still uncertain." Finally, an advisory means, "hazardous weather or hydrologic event is occurring, imminent or likely."

During a severe thunderstorm, and any severe weather event, the best thing to do is stay inside and sheltered. "The best defense against thunderstorms is to stay inside a sturdy building or shelter that can protect you from deadly lightning, large hail, damaging winds, flooding rain and tornadoes," the National Weather Service says. Also, you don't want to risk getting hit by lightning, like in the image below.

During a tornado, get underground if possible. If you don't have a basement, get to the lowest floor possible. Also, during a tornado, watch for flying and falling debris. The National Weather Service advises to "use pillows, blankets, coats, helmets, etc. to cover up and protect your head and body from flying debris."

Be prepared. Have a good emergency kit, both in your house and your car. For the car, "An emergency kit should include booster cables, shovel, tow rope, sand or cat litter, and a flashlight with extra batteries," the National Weather Service says. "Do not forget a first aid kit, non-perishable food, and blankets or sleeping bags."

This one my mom and dad always tell me to do. And, they're right. "Keep your gas tank near full to avoid ice in the tank and fuel line," the National Weather Service advises.

Heat can make for a severe weather event, too. So, dress appropriately when it gets really hot. "Lightweight, light-colored clothing reflects heat and sunlight, and helps your body maintain normal temperatures," the National Weather Service says. They add to guzzle lots of "water or non-alcoholic fluids."

Sometimes, you just have to leave ahead of the storm to be safe. In the case of a hurricane, the National Weather Service says to "leave immediately if ordered." They also say that if you are allowed to stay, to "take refuge in a small interior room, closet or hallway on the lowest level during the storm. Put as many walls between you and the outside as you can," and "stay away from windows, skylights and glass doors."

Weather isn't just about thunderstorms and tornados. Air quality is a big part of weather events these days, too. Be on the lookout for air quality alerts in your area. If you have respiratory issues, you should wear a mask when out and about in bad air quality. You should also say inside if the air quality is especially bad.

Even on a perfect weather day, if you're at the beach, there are risks. The NOAA states, "To stay safe, you need to stay aware of the weather, the ocean, tide, and what is going on around you." They add, "Storms, such as thunderstorms, tropical storms, and hurricanes far out at sea can create dangerous waves and currents at the beach, even on a sunny day!"