Related Resources: power transmission
Average Wind Velocities
Power Transmission Design and Engineering
Average wind velocities at selected locations within the continental United States.
Location |
Ave. Velocity
mi/hr |
Prevailing Direction
|
Albany, N.Y. |
9.0
|
S
|
Albuquerque, N.M. |
8.8
|
SE
|
Atlanta, Ga. |
9.8
|
NW
|
Boise, Idaho |
9.6
|
SE
|
Boston, Mass. |
11.8
|
SW
|
Bismarck, N. Dak. |
10.8
|
NW
|
Buffalo, N.Y. |
14.6
|
SW
|
Burlington, Vt. |
10.1
|
S
|
Chattanooga, Tenn. |
6.7
|
—
|
Cheyenne, Wyo. |
11.5
|
W
|
Chicago, Ill. |
10.7
|
SSW
|
Cincinnati, Ohio |
7.5
|
SW
|
Cleveland, Ohio |
12.7
|
S
|
Denver, Colo. |
7.5
|
S
|
Des Moines, Iowa |
10.1
|
NW
|
Detroit, Mich. |
10.6
|
NW
|
Duluth, Minn. |
12.4
|
NW
|
El Paso, Tex. |
9.3
|
N
|
Galveston, Tex. |
10.8
|
—
|
Helena, Mont. |
7.9
|
W
|
Kansas City, Mo. |
10.0
|
SSW
|
Knoxville, Tenn. |
6.7
|
NE
|
Louisville, Ky. |
8.7
|
S
|
Memphis, Tenn. |
9.9
|
S
|
Miami, Fla. |
12.6
|
—
|
Minneapolis, Minn. |
11.2
|
SE
|
Mt. Washington, N.H. |
36.9
|
W
|
New Orleans, La. |
7.7
|
—
|
New York, N.Y. |
14.6
|
NW
|
Oklahoma City, Okla. |
14.6
|
SSE
|
Omaha, Neb. |
9.5
|
SSE
|
Pensacola, Fla. |
10.1
|
NE
|
Philadelphia, Pa. |
10.1
|
NW
|
Pittsburgh, Pa. |
10.4
|
WSW
|
Portland, Maine |
8.4
|
N
|
Portland, Ore. |
6.8
|
NW
|
Rochester, N.Y. |
9.1
|
SW
|
St. Louis, Mo. |
11.0
|
S
|
Salt Lake City, Utah |
8.8
|
SE
|
San Diego, Calif. |
6.4
|
WNW
|
San Francisco, Calif. |
10.5
|
WNW
|
Savannah, Ga. |
9.0
|
NNE
|
Spokane, Wash. |
6.7
|
SSW
|
Washington, D.C. |
7.1
|
NW
|
U.S. Weather Bureau records of the average wind velocity at selected stations. The period of record ranges from 6 to 84 years, ending 1954. No correction for height of station above ground.