Why Does Montana Get So Windy?

Montana lies beneath a giant weather war zone where cold winds from the north slam against warmer winds from the west. High above these air masses, the jet stream swings back and forth, adding to the unstable, unpredictable weather patterns. The windiest section of Montana is along the eastern slope of the Rockies.

Is Montana very windy?

In some locations, the prevailing wind is strong and it blows across open country creating high average wind speeds. Prevailing winds in eastern Montana are from the northwest in the winter, and the southeast in the summer.

Is Montana the windiest state?

The top 5 windiest states are: Nebraska (1), Kansas (2), South Dakota (3), North Dakota (4), and Iowa (5). The top 5 least windy states are: Mississipi (1), Florida (2), Kentucky (3), Georgia (4),and Alabama (5).

What is the windiest month in Montana?

The windier part of the year lasts for 7.1 months, from October 10 to May 13, with average wind speeds of more than 9.0 miles per hour. The windiest month of the year in Billings is January, with an average hourly wind speed of 10.7 miles per hour.

What is the highest wind speed in Montana?

143 mph
Montana’s highest recorded wind gust came in 2002 came in at 143 mph at Miller Colony near Choteau in Teton County.

What is the windiest city in the USA?

Dodge City, Kansas
It’s thought to be the windiest city in the U.S., with an average wind speed of 15 mph.

What part of Montana has the best weather?

Which City in Montana Has The Best Weather?

  • Billings has the best weather in Montana.
  • Billings Montana only receives 14 inches of rain annually, only 27% of the 38-inch national average.
  • The average summer day in Billings, Montana will range anywhere between 60 degrees and the highest temperature of 90 Degrees.
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What state has the most windy days?

The ten windiest states in the U.S. are below.
Here are the 10 states with the most wind:

  • Alaska (21.9)
  • Wyoming (21.5)
  • Michigan (20.9)
  • Montana (20.5)
  • Nebraska (20.5)
  • South Dakota (20.3)
  • Oklahoma (20.2)
  • Wisconsin (20.2)

What state has the most wind?

Texas
Wind Energy Facilities Installed Capacity Ranked by State/Territory

Rank State Installed Capacity (Megawatts)
1 Texas 33,133
2 Iowa 11,660
3 Oklahoma 9,048
4 Kansas 7,016

What is the windiest place on Earth?

Commonwealth Bay
Commonwealth Bay, Antartica
The Guinness Book of World Records and National Geographic Atlas have both listed this bay in Antarctica as the windiest place on the planet. Katabatic winds in Commonwealth Bay are recorded at over 150 mph on a regular basis, and the average annual wind speed is 50 mph.

Is Montana a good state to live in?

Montana Is Full of Great Places to Live
Although far down the list of most populous states, Montana has two cities ranked among Livability’s 2018 Top 100 Best Places to Live. The college towns of Bozeman, home of Montana State University, is ranked No. 96; and Missoula, home to the University of Montana is ranked 59.

What is it like living in Montana?

The state boasts a thriving agricultural industry and low unemployment rates, while also offering endless opportunities for adventure and a rare chance for peace and quiet. But life in Montana, with its unpredictable weather, booming property market, open-range laws, and throngs of tourists, isn’t for everyone.

What’s the best place to live in Montana?

30 Best Cities in Montana to Call Home

  • Bozeman. Located in southern Montana, near the stunning Bridger Mountains, the City of Bozeman is one of the most popular places for students, young professionals and families to live.
  • Belgrade.
  • Billings.
  • Dillon.
  • Four Corners.
  • East Helena.
  • Helena.
  • Livingston.
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What’s the fastest wind ever recorded?

Then, at 1:21 pm on April 12, 1934, the extreme value of 231 mph out of the southeast was recorded. This would prove to be the highest natural surface wind velocity ever officially recorded by means of an anemometer, anywhere in the world.

Where was the strongest wind ever recorded?

Barrow Island
On Wednesday, April 10, 1996, Barrow Island, which is off the coast of western Australia, measured the highest wind speed ever recorded on Earth (not including tornadoes). Tropical Cyclone Olivia battered the tiny island with winds as high as 407 km/h.

What was the world’s fastest wind speed ever recorded?

253 mph
The highest wind speed ever recorded occurred on Barrow Island, Australia. On April 10th, 1996, an unmanned weather station measured a 253 mph wind gust during Tropical Cyclone Olivia.

What is the windiest place in north America?

St John’s in Canada is north America’s windiest city, averaging between 13 and 15mph. Wellington sits on the Cook Strait, a passage between New Zealand’s north and south islands.

Is Wyoming the windiest state?

With an average of 21.5 mph, Wyoming is the second-windiest state in the United States.

Why is the Midwest so windy?

Warmer air masses surge north and meet up with colder air that has been in place over the course of the winter. This creates tighter temperature gradients. As discussed above, tighter temperature gradients mean more rising and sinking air which then creates tighter pressure gradients resulting in stronger wind speeds.

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Is Montana expensive to live in?

Average Cost of Living in Montana: $42,310 per year
According to MERIC data in the third quarter of 2021, Montana ranks 30th when it comes to cost of living. That means Montana is more expensive to live in than half of the country.

Why is Montana’s weather so weird?

The Continental Divide has a dramatic effect on weather in Montana for two reasons. The first reason is that the divide hinders the flow of the often very cold air that invades eastern Montana from making its way over into the western part of the state.