We missed a big chance for rain yesterday. We were supposed to have thunder and lightning and all we got was big black clouds and wind. Disappointing.
Cowboy State daily weatherman, Don Day, was quoted here about why the wind is blowing so much 'everywhere'.
So, has this winter/spring been windier than average?
Day says the answer is yes, but it has been the last 5 weeks of wind that has pushed people over the edge — not so much the wind between November and February.
He reminds us that March/April on average is one of the windiest times of the year in this region.
Day offers up a logical explanation: "Back to why it is so windy – I know folks are tired of me saying 'La Nina' but La Nina (which has going on for more than two years now) is a major culprit in our high winds. La Nina is when the subtropical Pacific Ocean (along the equator) is cooler than average, especially for long periods of time. It has nothing to do with climate change, it is the colder water that helps induce the high winds and dryness. It sounds counterintuitive but colder water in the subtropical Pacific usually means warmer, drier, and windier weather in western North America."
I'll let Don Day have the last words when it comes to all this wind:
He says: "When this state and region get hit with high winds it is usually from two types of patterns.
"First, strong west to east jet stream winds that run perpendicular to the Continental Divide – this causes the wind to be squeezed through the mountain gaps (i.e. Elk Mountain, Muddy Gap, etc.) causing strong wind events. La Nina helps to form very fast-moving jet stream winds. This is one reason for the drought, storms, and fronts move through fast, not having time to drop good amounts of rain/snow.
"Second, intense winter/spring storms that move on top or just north of the state. This pattern (the blizzards in ND/MT) has been responsible for the high wind. When strong low-pressure systems form in the region and pass to our north, the big difference in air pressure bring intense wind that can go on for days. This is common, especially in the spring. So, this spring, the high number of intense storms moving through the Pacific NW, MT, ND, NE WY brings very strong winds to the rest of WY, UT, CO, NE, NM, TX, OK.
"This spring the number of these intense spring storms is higher, which is ultimately good news for our friends to the north (moisture), while the rest of the region gets pummeled by the wind. When storms pass to our south (CO, NM) we don't get the high winds." He concludes: "By this time next year, La Nina will be gone but I can guarantee you someone will walk up to me and say: 'I swear this is the worst year of wind I can remember. It's been awful!'"