Windiest week in years as howling gusts hit southern Ontario

Toronto: Did you feel that wind this week? It’s been a wild ride in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) with some serious gusts blowing through.

People on bikes were really feeling it, and it’s been the windiest week we’ve seen since 2022. Can you believe it?

Just to give you an idea, places like Hamilton and St. Catharines also recorded some hefty winds, hitting around 25 to 27 km/h.

Remember December 2022? That was a rough one with blizzards and road closures. Kingston had a blizzard that lasted almost a full day!

It’s interesting to see how wind speeds change throughout the year. Winter is usually when we get the strongest winds, while summer is pretty calm.

For those in the snowbelt, it’s no surprise that the wind often comes from the west. And right now, that Arctic air is bringing some chilly wind chills.

So, when will this wind let up? Well, it’s all about air pressure. There’s a big high-pressure system over the Prairies and a low-pressure one over Newfoundland, which is keeping the winds strong.

We might not see a break until Friday when things should calm down a bit. But don’t get too comfy; another northerly wind is expected to kick in by Monday.

Fun fact: during windy days, Ontario can generate over 4,000 megawatts of electricity! And if you’re into kites, you’ll need at least 15-20 km/h winds to get them flying.

Oh, and did you know St. John’s, N.L., is the windiest city in Canada? They average over 23 km/h! Meanwhile, Kelowna, B.C., is the calmest with just 5.4 km/h.