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TRI-STATE AREA -- October is often characterized as a windy month around these parts. The months of November and March are also frequently breezy. Why is this the case?

These months spark abrupt change for the atmosphere. On the average, temperatures are cooling at a very impressive rate in the months of October and November. In October, for example, the normal high temperature at the first of the month is 72 degrees, but this declines to 58 degrees on Halloween. November goes from 58-degree afternoons down to 43-degree average days by November 30^th.

For the month of March, the reverse is true. The average daily high temperature goes from 44 degrees at the beginning of the month all the way to 57 degrees by the end of the month.

These steep temperature contrasts allow for large, strong storms to form. These low-pressure systems or storms then create a large difference in air pressure between any surrounding areas of high pressure. The direct result of these differences in pressure is wind – that’s how wind is created! The closer an area of low pressure is to an area of high pressure – the stronger the wind. Also, the more intense the difference is between the low pressure and high pressure – the stronger the wind.

I think one of the fun things about autumn is that the winds are timed so well for clearing the leaves from the trees… If you’re really fortunate, the leaves will go over to the neighbor’s yard…