It has been quite windy here in Central Pennsylvania. You may be wondering why, or how wind is created, it all starts with the sun!
Wind is air in motion. The sun heats the earth unevenly, due to this it creates warmer and colder pockets of air. When these too areas of air meet, then wind is created. We designate these areas that have high winds and new air masses on a weather map with a cold or warm front.
When we transition out of winter into spring, we have a lot of cold and warm air clashing together which is why we see strong winds during this time of the year compared to others.
With the strong winds we have been experiencing lately, you may wonder how much wind it would take to move you sideways.
We use the calculation of Wind = √195 X weight/area
To move a maple leaf you only need a wind speed of 3 miles per hour. To laterally move a typical trash can, winds typically must pick up to 28 miles per hour. If you want to move a human who weighs 175 pounds, it would take winds over 67 miles per hour. Finally, to move a car you would need wind speeds over 90 miles per hour.
Winds will be picking up again on Thursday.
YOUR LATEST FORECAST CAN BE FOUND HERE –>
FAQs
Assuming that the vector of the wind is going upwards, then the wind speed needs to be greater than terminal velocity (>120mph); terminal velocity varies on your weight and surface area. Based on personal experience in hurricanes. The wind speed that blows people away is around 90 mph.
Can 100 mph wind move a person? ›
Assuming that the vector of the wind is going upwards, then the wind speed needs to be greater than terminal velocity (>120mph); terminal velocity varies on your weight and surface area. Based on personal experience in hurricanes. The wind speed that blows people away is around 90 mph.
Can 80 mph winds lift a person? ›
An average person could be moved by a 67 mph wind, and an average car can be moved by a 90 mph wind.
How much weight can a 60 mph wind move? ›
It'll easily flip a 2000 to 4000 pound aircraft but may not affect your 25 pound patio table or your 2000 to 4000 pound car. If you expect high speed winds, tie everything down well or bring it inside and try not to be on the road in an 80,000 pound truck with a box or refer trailer attached.
How much weight can 75 mph winds move? ›
A four by eight sheet of plywood will be pushed by a weight of 50 pounds. In 75 mph winds, that force becomes 450 pounds, and in 125 mph winds, it becomes 1,250 pounds.
What mph wind can knock you over? ›
If you weighed 100 pounds, it would take a wind speed of about 45 mph to move you, but not knock you down, unless you lose your balance. Knocking you down would take a wind of at least 70 mph.
What is the highest wind speed a human can survive? ›
Humans can survive blasts of 500 mph wind, which is important because pilots sometimes need to eject from airplanes at those speeds. In the 1940s, the US government put pilots in wind tunnels to learn how they reacted to high winds. Have you ever been curious what happens to a person's face in 457 mph winds?
Can 80 mph wind flip a car? ›
A couple of scientists conducted a study that monitored increasing high winds and how it affects stationary vehicles. The study showed that headwinds with wind speeds up to 115 miles per hour do not tip over vehicles.
How much wind does it take to flip a car? ›
The study showed that head winds with wind speeds of up to 115 miles per hour do not tip over vehicles, however crossing the 115 miles per hour mark, the results are much different. Touching 180 miles per hour, any stationary or in motion vehicle has an increased chance of tipping over۔
At what wind speed can you not operate a boom lift? ›
Note: In the absence of manufacturers' specific written advice, seriously consider postponing use of the lift if the wind speed/gust is in the range of 15-28 mph. Above 28 mph use of the lift must be canceled.
They can move slowly, appearing nearly stationary, to as fast as 60 mph. The size and shape of a tornado does not necessarily say anything about the tornado's strength or it's capability to inflict damage. Since tornadoes can change intensity quickly, they should all be considered dangerous.
What wind speed can knock down trees? ›
55 to 63 mph Considerable structural damage occurs, especially on roofs. Small trees may be blown over and uprooted. 64 to 75 mph Widespread damage occurs. Larger trees blown over and uprooted.
What is the strongest wind ever recorded? ›
253 mph • Barrow Island, Australia • April 10, 1996
The anemometer was located at an elevation of 210 feet. Wind trace taken at Barrow Island, Australia, during Tropical Cyclone Olivia. The wind scale is in meters per second. The peak gust of 113.2 m/s (253 mph) occurred at around 6:15 pm local time.
Can 100 mph winds pick up a car? ›
Only a 90 mph wind gust is required to move a car laterally. This is due to their large surface area. Even though they are dense and heavy, they possess a large surface area, therefore only requiring a wind gust that is still under 100 mph.
What wind speed can pick up a human? ›
To move a person, particularly someone weighing around 100 pounds (45.3 kilograms), wind speeds would need to reach 40 to 45 miles an hour (64 to 72 kph), which falls into the range of a strong gale to storm on the Beaufort Scale.
Can you walk in 100 mph winds? ›
“In those kinds of speeds, you can't walk properly,” says Professor Cloke, whose own wheelie bin gets blown over as we speak. “You are just trying to limit how much the wind buffets you. Try and stay clear of busy roads, especially with children.
What wind speed can move a human? ›
To move a person, particularly someone weighing around 100 pounds (45.3 kilograms), wind speeds would need to reach 40 to 45 miles an hour (64 to 72 kph), which falls into the range of a strong gale to storm on the Beaufort Scale.
How much force is in 100 mph wind? ›
Armed with pressure and drag data, you can find the wind load using the following formula: force = area x pressure x Cd. Using the example of a flat section of a structure, the area – or length x width – can be set to 1 square foot, resulting in a wind load of 1 x 25.6 x 2 = 51.2 psf for a 100-mph wind.
Can you stand up in 100 mph wind? ›
The average person is most certainly not heavy enough to stand up to a 100 mph wind. Even buildings crumble in winds of high speeds. 100 mph is a pretty high speed, so if an object were to hit you going that fast, you would likely be in serious condition or pass away upon impact in this type of motorcycle accident.
