Does it get windy in New York City?
The question applies to any city with lots of really tall, big buildings, really. I figure that all those tall buildings would get in the way of the wind, like they make some kind of artificial lee. I've never been in a big city like that.
They don't block the wind so much as funnel it down the streets between them. But I don't think NYC gets as windy as Chicago. There's a reason it's called "the windy city."
And that reason is because of the politicians “blowing hot air”.
Correct. Another very popular nickname is misunderstood.
Not only is it windy, it's cold as fuck when you're standing in the shadow of a building, even in the summer. And there are a lot of buildings blocking the sun in NYC.
NYC was very windy when I visited and the direction would change between blocks. Made using an umbrella a bit of a pain. The buildings created more like a tunnel effect than blocking it.
Chicago is called the windy city for a reason.
Yes, for politics.
Why is Chicago called the Windy City?
The nickname originally had less to do with weather and more to do with politics. In the late 1800s, rival newspapers—especially in New York—mocked Chicago politicians for being “full of hot air” as the city lobbied to host the World’s Fair. Earlier references also tied the phrase to both windy weather off Lake Michigan and “windy” public speakers. Over time, the nickname stuck and became part of Chicago’s identity.
That's 3 reasons, none of which are any more concrete than the other.
"They've got cars big as bars, they've got rivers of gold But the wind goes right through you, it's no place for the old"
Don't know, I've never been to the US.
Thanks for your feedback
But have you ever been downtown in any big city with lots of skyscrapers? The subheader of the question asks about those as well, and since the consensus is that NYC can be very windy because the grid funnels the wind (I've experienced it myself) it would be interesting to know if an older circular-walled city origin would cause the modern skyscrapers (planted in old lots) to block the wind more effectively, for instance. Meanwhile, The street grid of old Spanish Los Angeles was deliberately laid out at a 45-degree angle to the cardinal directions to maximize sunlight and wind circulation. This was done in accordance with the Laws of the Indies, a set of planning regulations decreed by the Spanish crown in 1573 for all colonial settlements. This older, angled grid is still visible in the city's downtown core, where it clashes with the standard north-south-east-west grid introduced after the American takeover.
No, it's only windy in Chicago. That's why it's called the 'windy city'. No further questions.
Tall buildings can block or funnel wind which can lead to smoggy and stormy areas. I assume at least Manhattan will have enough wind due to location and layout. However other cities that have a more medieval layout may have problematic areas. Most cities will do some kind of climate planning, I.e. where do wind and water go, are there any hot areas, etc. Here’s the starting page Frankfurts urban climate plan for air ducts for example. If you google „urban climate planning“ you’ll find tons of examples including NYC.
It depends on where you are, but the huge grids of Manhattan can definitely be windy. They’re essentially big straight channels with nothing to block an air current.
I never really think about it, but yeah its pretty windy
Yes, it absolutely gets windy in NYC.
Remember that Manhattan is laid out in a very regular grid. This is equally useful if you are a poetic zepher of wind or a becaped superhero, as these long passages make it really easy to (traffic allowing) rush forward at full speed and little chance of hitting a wall.
This made me wonder why wind is never a factor in any of the Spider-Man stories. Even though it's actually a spider's main method of transportation.
That was one of the first things I noticed when visiting north America. The grid really does make cities super windy compared to the cities I'm used to, which grew naturally over centuries and aren't on a grid. And I'm from a city that's pretty windy for geographical reasons. Still doesn't compare.