Strongest winds are observed in all coastal areas of Canada. Very strong winds are observed in the foot-hills of the Rocky Mountains where Chinooks occur. Analysis of extreme winds over time indicates that stormy years and calm years occur in cycles approximately 10 to 15 years long. Figure 3 is a plot of the annual maximum wind for Iqaluit Airport from 1953 to 1990. The double line is the 5-year running mean wind.
Winds are stronger on top of tall steep hills and escarpments than in protected valleys.
Also, winds are stronger in exposed areas surrounded by large bodies of water than in areas surrounded by trees or buildings. As a result, wind speeds can be very location dependent. Winds at a nearby airport may be too low to represent speeds for a site on top of a bare hill facing the ocean. Conversely, mean winds in the heart of the city of Toronto surrounded by low rise buildings and mature trees, for example, are usually lower than those observed at Toronto International Airport. Wind speeds increase with elevation above ground.