CONNECTICUT, USA — Is this the windiest spring ever? The answer might surprise you.
Spring is actually Connecticut's windiest season. It's a season of change. There are still large-scale storm systems, big temperature swings, and the sun is strong. All of those factor into frequent windy days.
March and April are the windiest months of the year in both Hartford and New Haven.
Note the prevailing wind direction this time of year is from the northwest.
In May, the prevailing wind direction in New Haven is from the south-southwest, a sign of the sea breeze influence.
So, where does this year rank?
It turns out the last month has had very close to average wind speeds in Hartford, and a bit below average in New Haven.
This time of year, Connecticut tends to get strong northwesterly winds after cold fronts pass through.
However, one thing that makes the difference in the spring is the angle of the sun. It's equal to September or even August.
As chilly air masses linger overhead, the sun heats the ground, forcing the warm air to rise. The difference between the cold air high up and the warmth near the ground creates an unstable setup, generating wind even on clear, sunny afternoons.
In fact, this spring, the windest time of day has been 4 p.m. in Hartford, which is why you've probably noticed the wind quite a bit.
Ryan Breton is a meteorologist at FOX61 News. He can be reached at rbreton@fox61.com. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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