National Weather ServiceHigh Wind WatchVTEC HW.AArchive to October 1, 2026
High Wind Watch: what it means and how often it is issued
The National Weather Service issued 434 high wind watches in 2025 and 375 a year on average in 2008-2025; Wyoming, New Mexico and Montana got the most in 2021-2025. 2026 through September: 254, 11% above the average of 230 for those months in 2008-2025.
What is a high wind watch?
A high wind watch means winds reaching high wind warning values are possible. A watch means the conditions for the hazard are possible or favourable, but it is not yet happening: be ready to act if a warning follows.
Source: National Weather Service directives and glossary.
How many high wind watches a year?
National count: each high wind watch counted once, whatever the number of states it covers. 2026 is an outline: the year is not over.
The numbers
| Year | Count |
|---|---|
| 2026 (through September) | 254 |
| 2025 | 434 |
| 2024 | 415 |
| 2023 | 369 |
| 2022 | 461 |
| 2021 | 439 |
| 2020 | 376 |
| 2019 | 347 |
| 2018 | 314 |
| 2017 | 368 |
| 2016 | 315 |
| 2015 | 278 |
| 2014 | 371 |
| 2013 | 288 |
| 2012 | 478 |
| 2011 | 457 |
| 2010 | 359 |
| 2009 | 304 |
| 2008 | 375 |
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 1, 2026.
When in the year?
Sum of 2008-2025; the busiest month is labelled.
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 1, 2026.
Which states get the most high wind watches?
Yearly average per state, 2021-2025. A high wind watch covering two states counts in both.
| State | A year, 2021-2025 | A year, 2008-2025 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | 74 | 60 | 71 |
| New Mexico | 52 | 42 | 46 |
| Montana | 49 | 38 | 63 |
| California | 49 | 51 | 49 |
| Texas | 49 | 42 | 43 |
| Alaska | 32 | 32 | 33 |
| Colorado | 27 | 18 | 22 |
| Nebraska | 21 | 14 | 30 |
| Kansas | 20 | 12 | 22 |
| Oregon | 19 | 25 | 18 |
| South Dakota | 14 | 10 | 21 |
| Washington | 11 | 17 | 10 |
| Nevada | 10 | 12 | 10 |
| New York | 9 | 9 | 13 |
| Utah | 8 | 7 | 1 |
| Tennessee | 7 | 5 | 4 |
| Oklahoma | 7 | 4 | 8 |
| Maine | 6 | 7 | 2 |
| West Virginia | 6 | 4 | 9 |
| Massachusetts | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| Idaho | 6 | 5 | 4 |
| Pennsylvania | 5 | 5 | 10 |
| Arizona | 5 | 5 | 1 |
| North Dakota | 4 | 5 | 8 |
| Virginia | 4 | 6 | 5 |
| North Carolina | 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Maryland | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| Michigan | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Connecticut | 3 | 4 | 6 |
| Vermont | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Rhode Island | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Minnesota | 3 | 3 | 5 |
| Ohio | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| New Jersey | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| Iowa | 2 | 2 | 7 |
| Indiana | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Hawaii | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| New Hampshire | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Missouri | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Illinois | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Delaware | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Mississippi | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Georgia | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Kentucky | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Louisiana | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| South Carolina | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Arkansas | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Florida | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Alabama | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 1, 2026.
High Wind Watch or high wind warning?
A high wind watch (for a wide area, hours or days ahead) means the conditions are possible: be ready; a high wind warning (from the local NWS office, for the area at risk) means the hazard is happening or imminent: act now. A high wind warning means sustained winds of 40 mph or more for an hour or longer, or gusts of 58 mph or more, in most offices; some mountain and coastal offices use higher values. A warning means the hazard is happening, about to happen, or very likely: act now to protect people and property. The NWS issued 620 high wind warnings in 2025, against 434 high wind watches. The high wind warning record.