Probability Distributions of Extreme Wind Speeds in Thunderstorm Prone Regions

Published

February 19, 2017

Author(s)

Franklin T. Lombardo, Emil Simiu

Abstract

A recently developed capability allows the routine creation, from National Weather Service Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) records, of separate sets of extreme non-thunderstorm and thunderstorm wind speeds. Using such records it is possible to obtain realistic probabilistic descriptions of the wind climate at stations where both types of wind occur. Estimates performed for Newark airport, NJ, LaGuardia airport, NY, and Kennedy airport, NY, showed that, at these stations, thunderstorm wind speeds dominate the extreme wind climate, especially at longer return periods, to such an extent that non-thunderstorm wind speeds can be disregarded in the analysis. Results are also presented on estimates based on commingled data sets (i.e., sets containing, indiscriminately, both non-thunderstorm and thunderstorm wind speeds), which until now have been used almost exclusively for extreme wind speed estimates in the U.S. Analyses conducted at numerous additional stations throughout the U.S. will be needed to check the validity of estimates similar to those presented in this paper.

Citation

Journal of Structural Engineering-Asce

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

extreme wind speeds, structural engineering, thunderstorms, wind climatology, wind engineering, wind forces

Citation

Lombardo, F. and Simiu, E. (2017), Probability Distributions of Extreme Wind Speeds in Thunderstorm Prone Regions, Journal of Structural Engineering-Asce (Accessed April 23, 2024)