Have Prevailing Winds Shifted in Your Area?

[Jason Topp]

We have a Southeast wind today.  I used to consider such a wind a rarity. 

The last 3-4 years it seems that prevailing winds in Minneapolis have changed from NW/SW to NW/SE.

I don't really want to start another global warming argument but the winds are more like they were in Des Moines than they usually have been here.

Anyone else have the same impression in their area?  Is there a source to tell me whether my impressions are consistent with actual data?

[Dan Herrmann]

Jason,
I too have noticed a lot more NE/E/SE wind here near Philly.   This is likely due to a La Nina condition in the Pacific the last couple of years.

I know our course plays quite difficult with an E wind.

[Andrew Mitchell]

You must be sending these winds across the pond via the gulf stream as I have noticed a shift in wind patterns in the last few weeks making my home course play very differently to the norm.

[Chris_Clouser]

I haven't notice a change in the wind direction here.  But what I have noticed is the increase in wind velocity since the first of the year.  It seems that every day we have a 15 to 20 MPH wind velocity in the Indy area. 

[Dan Kelly]

Is there a source to tell me whether my impressions are consistent with actual data?

See http://www.wunderground.com/weatherstation/WXDailyHistory.asp?ID=KMNPLYMO6&day=19&year=2008&month=5&graphspan=year

Begin clicking on "Previous Year." This might  (or might not) help.

[Steve Lang]

 

I notice more wind blowing out of the north and northeat during winter and bad weather periods while its nice and warm down here in se tx

[Dan Kelly]

I don't really want to start another global warming argument but the winds are more like they were in Des Moines than they usually have been here.

Hmmmm.

Washington, D.C., and Nashville, Tennessee are both southeast of here.

Just a coincidence?

[Dan Herrmann]

A lot of it has to do with El Nino/La Nina, the North Atlantic Oscallation, and the abundance of cut-off lows.  There's a nasty cut-off up north of Lake Ontario that's been reaking havoc with the NE and Mid-Atlantic USA (and S Ontario/Quebec too) for a week now.    Just look at your barometer if you're in one of those regions - We haven't seen >30" readings for quite a while now.  Right now, we're at 29.62, which is really low for this area.

With a cut-off low, you also have a chance for an Omega Block, where the jet stream across North America looks like a big Greek Omega character.  It blocks systems from moving.  If you're in the ridge area, you get warm sunny days.  If you're in a trough, you have crappy cold rainy weather.

All these definitely affect wind direction.

[JC Jones]

Not so much the direction but the frequency and the velocity.  Seems like everyday we are double digits in wind and it seems to be just the last couple years this as cropped up.