So far, this June has been windier than usual in the Triangle.
The average wind speed in Raleigh has been 7.9 mph, which is what you'd expect in February. The average June wind speed since the 1940s is 6.6 mph.
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Our average peak wind gust so far this month has been 26 mph.
What causes wind?
The wind is a direct result of something called the pressure gradient force.
The air naturally travels from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure to essentially "fill the void."
Then, there's something called the Coriolis Force, which deflects the natural movement of air to the right in the Northern Hemisphere.
In the case of this June, we've often had times where high pressure is anchored over the Southeast or right offshore. At the same time, there have been frequent storm systems that have tracked across the northern half of the U.S.
The pressure difference between those systems has driven more wind than you'd expect in the late spring and early summer.
Just last Thursday, an exceptionally strong area of low pressure to the north allowed gusts to exceed 30 mph locally.
(Those actually weren't directly tied to the remnants of Tropical Storm Arthur.)
Why do we care?
There are some pros and cons to the wind right now.
For many, the high humidity we typically feel is a nuisance. At times, it can become dangerous when combined with high temperatures.
Increased wind leads to something called adiabatic mixing, which can help lower the dew point and improve how things feel.
On the down side, we are in an Extreme to Exceptional Drought. While things have greened up and the fire risk is lower than that of the spring and fall months, any fire can spread quickly when wind is involved.
Drought, high heat and wind are three of the four main causes for wildfires spreading.
