Celebrate "Big Wind Day"!

Today is known as "Big Wind Day" probably due to the fact that Mount Washington Observatory (in New Hampshire) recorded the highest surface wind ever measured, anywhere on earth: 231 miles per hour!

On this day in 1934, three weather surveyors on Mt. Washington in New Hampshire recorded the highest velocity natural wind ever measured on Earth and found the gust had reached a whopping 231 miles per hour. Ever since then, New Hampshire residents have been known to refer to major news events as, 'The biggest thing to happen since that really big wind we had that one time.' 

The World Meteorological Organization has verified and concluded that a new non-tornadic wind speed record has been set in Australia. The new record of the highest wind speed is 408 km/h during Tropical Cyclone Olivia in 1996.

However, the highest recorded wind speed ever measured by an anemometer was recorded at the Mount Washington Observatory on April 12, 1934 and still holds as the champ! The recorded wind speed was 231 mph (372 kmh). Mt. Washington is a location known for severe weather. Intense cold, heavy fogs, and deep snow makes this location in New Hampshire famous for its weather. Mt. Washington stands at 6,288 feet and is the highest peak in the Northeast United States. The mountain is part of the Presidential Range of mountains which includes Mt. Adams and Mt. Eisenhower in the White Mountains. Air is commonly forced over the mountains, making it a prime location for high wind speeds.


More information on the record: http://www.mountwashington.org/about/visitor/recordwind.php


(Source: Wikipedia, weather.about.com & the ultimate holiday site.com; photo credit: Mt. Washington, bobgrantphotography.com; Earth Global Circulation, Wikipedia; Mt Washington Observatory, mountwashington.org)