If it feels like you’ve been fighting the wind every time you step outside this fall, you’re not imagining it. New England has been unusually windy, with Boston experiencing the windiest start to meteorological fall since 2010.
And it’s not just Bostonians battling those vicious wind tunnels between buildings. Areas like Norwood, Worcester, Springfield, Pittsfield, Providence, and even Manchester, N.H., have recorded top 5 blustery starts to meteorological fall (September-November) so far, according to the data. Take a look at a city near you to find out just how gusty it’s been near your home.
Last year was the windiest on record for Boston, and for those curious about how 2026 has been faring as a whole, the city is a near lock to see its gustiest 12 months on record for the second consecutive year. Many other areas and communities will see top 10 or top 5 windiest years.
It’s important to note that the data is for wind gusts. Just a quick lesson: “Wind speed” is determined by the average flow during a minimum two-minute stretch, while “gusts” are recorded as sudden, instantaneous increases in wind that can last anywhere from a few seconds to 30 seconds.
I believe wind gusts are a bit more accurate in describing the impacts of weather on your everyday life, and certainly more noticeable. I also checked average wind speeds across New England, for both year-to-date and since the start of fall, and every single city I checked has been windier than normal across the board.
So what’s going on? Why has the wind seemingly refused to take a break?
What’s driving all this wind?
There’s active weather, then there’s very active weather. The biggest piece of this puzzle is the persistent parade of weather systems that have been moving through the Northeast, especially this fall.
We’ve seen a sped-up progressive pattern where low-pressure systems and coastal storms, or even strong cold fronts, pass through or collide nearby. This happens every fall, sure, but the frequency has increased, with a bit more of a targeted approach thanks to the jet stream, or the “storm highway,” positioned a little closer to home. Then introduce a sharp change in atmospheric pressure — and as most of you may know, wind is generated by differing pressure systems attempting to find balance.
The greater the pressure difference over a given distance, the harder the atmosphere pushes air from one place toward another. When a storm deepens offshore (cut back to that rare September nor’easter), the pressure contrast cranks up the winds across New England — particularly along the coast and over exposed terrain where trees can’t absorb some of that wind.
These are all of the ingredients for a windy and gusty stretch over the past six to seven weeks of fall.
Will El Niño keep the wind blowing through December?
I really think so. El Niño continues to strengthen to unprecedented levels, and we’re likely going to see the jet stream shift to a more southerly and easterly track, which could easily steer more storms towards the Northeast this winter.
Now, more storms do not automatically mean a windier winter. It comes down to each storm and its strength, track, how quickly its central pressure falls, and what the pressure pattern looks like around it.
But to be honest, El Niño tilts the odds, but it cannot tell me how many days Boston can expect wind gusts of 30 mph or higher.
Ultimately, I think we’re going to be dealing with more gusty conditions through winter. The past three winters, El Niño delivered stronger-than-average wind gusts.
So don’t forget — keep a firm grip on your hats!
Ken Mahan can be reached at ken.mahan@globe.com. Follow him on Instagram @kenmahantheweatherman.