So far, 2025 has been the windiest year on record for Boston, statistics show
But here's the alarming stat — Boston is currently seeing the gustiest year on record and by a long shot, averaging nearly 10 miles per hour above the average dating back to when Logan Airport started recording wind data in 1936.
2025 is pacing over 2 mph stronger than the previous record set in 2010, averaging 32.64 mph.
Advertisement
Boston is averaging the highest wind gusts on record through the first five and a half months in 2025.
IEM
If you're wondering the difference between wind speed and wind gust here's a quick breakdown. Wind speed is determined by the average flow during a minimum two-minute stretch while gusts are recorded as sudden, instantaneous increases in wind that can last anywhere between a few seconds and 30 seconds. Wind gusts are a bit more accurate, and certainly more noticeable, in painting the picture of what the wind is like out there during any given day.
Look at Boston's top seven gustiest years between January 1 and June 15. Notice how all of them are in the past 16 years, a hint towards a warming atmosphere that has made our weather patterns a bit more extreme.
Advertisement
The top seven average wind gust speed across Logan Airport from January 1 through June 15.
Boston Globe
As far as sustained wind speeds in Boston, this year has been above the 30-year average but below the overall average of the 89-year data set available at Logan. This year's wind speed has averaged 12.28 mph, the highest since 2000.
Sustained wind speeds at Boston's Logan Airport have been the highest since 2000.
Boston Globe
What's the reason behind the strong wind gusts this year?
The answer jumps out if you think about the above wind speed and wind gust charts, why such a dramatic jump? Well, we've simply seen more storms this year.
'Wind is essentially air moving from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure,' said the National Weather Service in Norton, Mass.
It's a simple but effective reason. Storms are comprised of areas of low pressure and follow along the jet stream. This year, the jet stream has been positioned very close to Boston, mainly because there is no influence from naturally occurring weather patterns like El Niño or La Niña. Conditions have been neutral, which makes the jet steam behave a bit more erratic.
This year, there has only been a handful of occasions where the jet stream was more than 200 miles away from New England.
An example of the jet stream this Spring, sliding a storm close to Boston.
Boston Globe
With it closer to Boston, more storms are slinging across the region. Do I need to refer to the current rainy weekend streak that we're on? With more storms passing closer to the city, we see more instances of stronger winds.
We also have seen a stronger North Atlantic high pressure, which naturally bows the jet stream to the north, paralleling the New England coast. A stronger high has allowed storms to strengthen as they pull away from Boston. This increases the pressure gradient and we've seen the resulting jump in stronger wind gusts.
Advertisement
If you increase the angle at which high pressure flows to low pressure, then you get more speed.
We'll likely see the winds calm down a bit the deeper we get into summer. This tends to occur naturally as temperature differences between air masses decrease and wind speeds relax a bit.
But until then, you'll want to hold onto your hats.
Ken Mahan can be reached at
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Boston Globe
a day ago
- Boston Globe
Hurricane season in the Atlantic tropics: A quiet June with July trending more intense
'June is normally a quiet month,' said Phil Klotzbach, senior research scientist at Colorado State University. 'We've had above-average wind shear, and with cooler sea surface temperatures compared to this time last year.' Advertisement Take a look at sea surface temperatures for the third week of June compared to last year. The main development region was running extremely hot last June compared to late August, which helped spawn Beryl so early. This year is much different. The reason being? Strong trade winds from a stronger Bermuda high have helped with evaporative cooling of sea surface temperatures, keeping ocean temperatures closer to normal. Sea surface temperatures are much cooler this year (left) versus the third week of June last year (right) when Hurricane Beryl formed. Weather Models Since there's virtually no possibility of another tropical storm forming before Monday, we set our eyes on July, where the season typically begins to awaken. What does a normal July look like? July is usually another quiet month across the Atlantic tropics, with about 7 percent of the season activity occurring during this month. Of course, the busiest months of the hurricane season occur between August and October, with the peak date around September 10. Advertisement Over the past 30 years or so, July averages about 1.5 named storms, with .6 becoming hurricanes and .1 strengthening to a major hurricane — meaning we typically get a hurricane every other year, with 1 major hurricane every decade during July. In addition to the Gulf and Western Atlantic, the Caribbean and the Western edge of the tropical Atlantic, just to the east of the Antilles, become possible formation spots for tropical storms and hurricanes during July as sea surface temperatures generally reach the typical 80-degree minimum to support development. Tropical activity increases across the East Coast and Western Atlantic during July. Boston Globe What will this July look like? Long-term models suggest that sea surface temperatures will creep up, with wind shear becoming less intense, but it may take a while. July typically only produces one named storm, and I wouldn't be surprised if we cap off the month with just one named storm for this time around. There is another hurricane stat worth noting about July systems — there is a growing trend with Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE). ACE is a metric that measures the intensity of hurricanes. This means that July storms are trending stronger and longer-lasting. Take a look at how storm intensity during July as increased since 1950. Accumulated Cyclone Energy during the month of July since 1950. Phil Klotzbach, CSU And one last stat regarding July activity. 2020 tied the record for the number of named storms with five — Edouard, Fay, Gonzalo, Hanna, and Isaias. The only other year on record with five named storms was in 2005. New England and July tropical activity New England hardly sees a direct landfall from tropical storms or hurricanes as it is, let alone during July. However, there have been several remnant storms that have pushed into the region, along with weakened tropical depressions and post-tropical systems, all flooding parts of New England over the years. Advertisement Last July, New England was impacted by the remnants of Hurricane Beryl, dumping flooding rains across parts of New Hampshire and Vermont. Tropical Storm Fay in July of 2020 made landfall in New Jersey, but most of New England took on the brunt of the storm. The last direct landfall from a tropical storm or hurricane in New England during July? Tropical Storm Beryl in July of 2006, storm names are recycled until their retired, made landfall on Nantucket. All in all, it takes one storm to make a world of difference, regardless of the time of year. Take a look at the costliest and strongest hurricanes, in terms of pressure, on record. A list of the seven costliest hurricanes on record. Boston Globe The six strongest hurricanes on record in terms of barometric pressure. Boston Globe Ken Mahan can be reached at
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
When will Alabama cool off? Farmers' Almanac offers a hint at fall relief. What to know
We're only six days into summer officially, and fall can't come soon enough. Unfortunately, it might take time. With heat indexes soaring and humidity persisting well into June, many across the state are yearning for cooler temperatures and crisp mornings. The Farmer's Almanac suggests relief is on its way, eventually. Here's when Alabama residents can expect to feel the cooler temperatures across the state. Don't be surprised if summer lingers into late October. Fall in Alabama is expected to arrive with a cooler, wetter punch this year. The Farmers' Almanac predicts a cooler, stormier season across the South, with more cloud coverage than usual. But Halloween lovers can rejoice as it is expected to be dry and clear for the evening. A potential La Niña twist could extend storm season into November. As the Farmer's Almanac predicts, Alabama's summer heat isn't going anywhere anytime soon. A new three-month outlook from the National Weather Service indicates that most of the state is likely to experience slightly above-average temperatures through September. Far south and southeastern areas of the state will feel even hotter, with a stronger chance of above-normal heat lingering into early fall. The maximum temperature recorded in the state occurred on September 6, 1925, in Centerville, when temperatures soared to 112 degrees. Here are the highest recorded temperatures from cities across the state: Montgomery: 107 degrees on July 7, 1881 Tuscaloosa: 107 on Aug. 29, 2000 Gadsden: 106 on June 30, 2012 Birmingham: 107 on July 29, 1930 Dothan: 105 on July 2, 2009 Mobile: 106 on Aug. 23, 2023 Huntsville: 106 on June 29, 2012 Jennifer Lindahl is a Breaking and Trending Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team for Gannett/USA Today. Connect with her on X @jenn_lindahl and email at jlindahl@ This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: When will fall arrive in Alabama? Old Farmer's Almanac forecast
Boston Globe
3 days ago
- Boston Globe
Pattern shift alert! Boston has a major cool down on the way.
A quick look at Thursday Bostonians and New Englanders can share a collective sigh of relief as the pattern flips and cooler air funnels across the region under mostly cloudy skies. Dew points will also be much more comfortable, settling in the 50s, as Thursday's highs reach only the low 70s. Advertisement There will be a few scattered showers during the afternoon and evening, so it might be best to pack the umbrella for the commute home. Mostly cloudy skies will remain overnight with lows slipping to the upper 50s for some. The setup — turning cooler and cloudy, chance for showers After a hot transition day on Wednesday, the weak cold front will have pushed south of New England by sunrise Thursday morning. This brings one word to mind: refreshing. After days of major air conditioning demands, the weather will be cooler with increasing clouds and the chance for showers on Thursday. Basically, the stalled front to the south shifts the wind pattern to draw in cooler, drier air from the north, while inviting a couple of systems into the region for the next couple of days. Advertisement You'll notice some slivers of sunshine in the morning, but skies will turn mostly cloudy to near overcast as the day goes on. A few scattered, light showers are possible across Boston and parts west later in the day. Mostly cloudy skies will lead to a few scattered showers across the region on Thursday, especially in the second half of the day. Boston Globe Winds will be coming in from the east/northeast Thursday, reaching 10 miles per hour at times, which will end up keeping the immediate coast cooler than a mile or two inland. The morning commute will be in the mid- to upper 60s, paired with lower humidity. Dew points will be in the 50s to start the day and stay that way. Ultimately, highs will crawl to the low 70s, about 5 degrees below the average for Boston. Highs on Thursday will only reach the lower 70s. Boston Globe You can see the dry air funnel south across New England and park there for the rest of the work week. Dew points will drop into the more comfortable 50s for Thursday and Friday. Pivotal Weather End of week peek — 16th straight weekend of measurable rain in Boston A couple of pieces of energy will push into New England on Friday and Saturday. As of now, it looks like Friday afternoon and evening may deliver the most rain, but targeting closer to the Canadian border than Boston. Greater Boston may see scattered showers on both Friday and Saturday. Sunday morning may see a sprinkle, but the odds are pretty high that Boston will see measurable rain for the 16th straight weekend. The atmosphere takes a while to adjust after a massive extreme like the dome of high pressure that brought the heat wave, meaning we may see some shower activity for each of the next seven days. There is some chance of showers each day for the next week across Boston. Boston Globe Thursday's breakdown Greater Boston: Mostly cloudy to overcast with highs in the low 70s. A sea breeze of about 10 mph. Shower chance in the afternoon and evening. Staying mostly cloudy at night with a low near 60. Advertisement Southeastern Mass.: Seeing mostly cloudy skies with highs reaching the low 70s. A breeze to 10 mph. A couple of late evening showers are possible. Lows to the upper 50s under cloudy skies. Central/Western Mass.: Seeing mostly cloudy skies turning to overcast at times. Highs to the low and mid-70s. Berkshires stall in the upper 60s. Scattered showers are possible in the afternoon and evening, but they will be few and far between. Lows into the upper 50s. Cape and Islands: Mostly cloudy skies with a sea breeze to 10 or 15 mph. Highs reaching the upper 60s and low 70s. A spot shower later. Lows stay around 60 degrees under cloudy skies. Rhode Island: Mostly cloudy skies with the chance for a shower later in the day. Highs to the low and mid-70s. Staying mostly cloudy at night with lows near 60. New Hampshire: A bit more sunshine than Southern New England, allowing for temperatures to reach the mid-70s. A spot shower is possible in the afternoon, especially south of Plymouth. Lows to the upper 50s with mostly cloudy skies. Vermont/Maine: A partly sunny start with a mostly cloudy finish. A couple of spot showers are possible in Central and Southern Vermont. Highs to the low and mid-70s across both states. Turning mostly cloudy to overcast at night with lows in the upper 50s. The weather across Boston for the next seven days. Boston Globe for our , which will arrive straight into your inbox bright and early each weekday morning. Ken Mahan can be reached at
