What Makes Wind?

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By By Steve Pool

Story Published: Dec 10, 2002 at 8:56 AM PST

Story Updated: Mar 13, 2008 at 12:13 PM PST

SEATTLE - Normally, we're supposed to be getting our usual bouts with windy weather this time of year. Even though it's been rather calm thus far, you just know windier weather is around the corner.

Wind is created from differences between higher pressure and lower pressure. Air always tries to flow from higher pressure, toward lower pressure until the pressures are equalized.

The greater the difference in pressure between two points, the faster the wind speed will be. Other things such as mountains and valleys can affect the wind as well. The Puget Sound area can get strong windstorms in part because the Olympics and Cascades work to channel the winds along the I-5 corridor. As the area over which the winds move decreases, the wind speed will increase.

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