March Winds: Is It Windier Than Usual?

THE SCIENCE BEHIND MARCH’S BLUSTERY DAYS

Recently, I’ve heard a lot about the wind: “This is the windiest I ever remember it!” “Can you shut off the wind?” “Why has it been so windy?” So, I decided to investigate….. has it truly been windier than average?

MARCH IS THE WINDIEST MONTH ON AVERAGE

March is typically Pennsylvania’s windiest month of the year. When calculating averages, climatologists look at the past 30 years. Over that time, the average wind speed for March has been about

7.8 mph in State College and 9.6 mph in Altoona.

MARCH 2025

March 2025, our average wind speed was 8.6 mph in State College and 10.7 mph in Altoona, meaning, yes, it has indeed been windier than normal!

WHAT CAUSES WIND?

This, in my opinion, is a more complex explanation than one might think.

Let’s get into the physics!

What if I told you that Earth’s rotation, the Sun, temperatures and air pressure all have something in common? They create wind! Wind is air in motion.

The simplest explanation is that the sun heats the Earth unevenly due to factors like sun angles, rotation, and topography. This uneven heating creates differences in air pressure, which then leads to varying wind speeds.

Since air naturally moves from high pressure to low pressure, this movement creates wind!

We call the force that tries to equalize the air pressure differences the Pressure Gradient Force which is the main driver of wind. So if the pressure increases, the speed of the wind will also increase.

Basically wind is the result from a horizontal difference in air pressure. A lot of other forces also impact wind, but we won’t get into all of that today!

WHY IS MARCH SO WINDY?

Now, that we explained how wind is formed and happens, why does March tend to be so windy?

March marks the transition from winter to spring, bringing bigger temperature contrasts. These contrasts lead to stronger high and low pressure systems, which, in turn, create stronger winds. The clashing of warm and cold air, especially when cold fronts roll through, is what makes March particularly windy.

MEASURING WIND

We measure wind speed using an anemometer. Since wind itself is invisible, we determine its speed by measuring the force it applies to objects.

To find wind direction, we use a wind vane.

When meteorologists say there’s an “easterly wind,” that means the wind is coming from the east, not going to the east! An easterly wind here in PA, means cooler air. Our most dominate wind direction is a westerly wind.

I know wind can be annoying (it’s one of my least favorite weather elements!), but this time of year, it’s a sign that spring is on the way. So, while it may be pesky, it also means milder days aren’t far behind!

Do you like windy days?

Wx Shield