Windiest Place in US: What Most People Get Wrong

If you ask someone to name the windiest place in US, they usually blurt out "Chicago." It makes sense. The Windy City is a classic nickname. But honestly? Chicago isn't even in the top ten. Not even close. If you actually want to find the spot where the air moves fast enough to rip a car door off its hinges, you have to look much further north, or way out into the middle of the Great Plains.

The truth is a bit messy because "windiest" depends on how you measure it. Are we talking about the highest average speed year-round? Or the single most violent gust ever recorded by a human?

The Heavyweight Champion: Mount Washington

When it comes to raw, unadulterated power, Mount Washington in New Hampshire is the undisputed king. It’s basically the home of the world’s worst weather. Back in April 1934, a group of researchers at the summit observatory watched their instruments clock a gust of 231 mph.

Think about that.

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That’s faster than a Ferrari at top speed. For decades, it was the fastest wind ever recorded on Earth until a tropical cyclone in Australia barely edged it out in 1996. Even now, in 2026, the summit remains a freak of nature. Just last February, the observatory recorded gusts of 161 mph.

Why is this one mountain so chaotic? It’s a perfect storm of geography. You’ve got the Presidential Range acting like a massive funnel, squeezing air from the west and accelerating it right over the peak. It’s a phenomenon called the Venturi effect. Basically, the mountain is a natural wind tunnel. If you visit in the summer, you might get a nice breeze. Visit in the winter, and you’ll literally have to crawl on your hands and knees to keep from being blown into the next state.

The City Rankings: Where You’ll Actually Lose Your Hat

Most of us don't live on mountain peaks. We live in cities. And if you're looking for the windiest city in America, you need to head to the Panhandle or the High Plains.

Amarillo, Texas and Cheyenne, Wyoming are constantly duking it out for the top spot. As of the most recent NOAA data through 2025, Cheyenne often takes the crown for highest average annual speed, usually hovering around 14-15 mph.

It’s relentless.

• Cheyenne, WY: High elevation and zero obstacles. The wind just rolls off the Rockies and hammers the city.
• Amarillo, TX: It’s flat. Like, really flat. There’s nothing to stop a gust from traveling hundreds of miles until it hits your face.
• Dodge City, KS: This is the legendary "Windy West." It averages over 13 mph. It’s so consistent that schools out there sometimes have "wind days" instead of snow days.

Then you have the wildcards: Alaska. If we’re being technical, Cold Bay, Alaska is probably the windiest inhabited place in the country. It’s a tiny spot on the Alaska Peninsula where the average speed sits at a staggering 16.1 mph. It’s gray, it’s wet, and it’s constantly blowing. Most people forget about it because, well, hardly anyone lives there.

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Why Chicago is a Lie

You might be wondering why Chicago got the name if it’s so much calmer than a random town in Kansas. It wasn't about the weather. Most historians agree it was a political jab. 19th-century journalists in New York used "Windy City" to describe Chicago politicians who were "full of hot air" while campaigning for the 1893 World's Fair.

Don't get me wrong, it gets breezy near Lake Michigan. But compared to the 12.3 mph average in Boston or the 12.8 mph in Oklahoma City, Chicago’s average of about 10.3 mph is actually pretty tame. If you’re moving there for the wind, you’re going to be disappointed.

Surviving the Gusts: Actionable Advice

If you’re planning to travel to these high-wind zones, or if you're moving to a place like Casper, Wyoming, you need to change how you live.

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1. Check the "Peak Gust" not just the average. An average of 12 mph sounds fine. A peak gust of 70 mph will take the shingles off your roof.
2. Car Door Safety. This sounds like a joke, but in places like Mount Washington or the Wyoming plains, always hold your car door with both hands when opening it. The wind can catch it and bend the hinges backward in a split second.
3. Landscape Strategy. If you live in a windy corridor, don't just plant any tree. You want windbreaks—evergreens like Junipers or certain types of Spruce that can handle the constant battering without snapping.
4. The "Heavy" Outdoor Gear. Forget the cheap plastic patio furniture. If you’re in Amarillo or Dodge City, that stuff will end up in the next county. Go for wrought iron or heavy treated wood.

The windiest place in US isn't just a fun trivia fact; it's a force that shapes how people build homes, drive cars, and even walk down the street. Whether it's the 200+ mph screams of Mount Washington or the steady, daily push of the Wyoming plains, these places remind us that we're pretty small compared to the atmosphere.

Next Steps for You:
If you're heading to the Northeast, check the Mount Washington Observatory higher summits forecast before you even pack your bags. If you're looking at real estate in the Great Plains, look up the "wind rose" data for that specific zip code to see which direction the primary gusts come from—it’ll save you a fortune on heating bills.