As of 2020, which state experienced the highest wind speed ever recorded in the U.S.?

Despite tornadoes that rage throughout the Midwest and hurricanes that rip up the Gulf and Atlantic coastlines, it’s New Hampshire that boasts the record for the highest wind speed ever recorded in the United States.

The state’s Mount Washington boasts the slogan, "Home of the World's Worst Weather"; and with good reason. For nearly sixty-two years, Mount Washington, New Hampshire held not only the country’s, but also the world record for the fastest wind gust ever recorded on the surface of the Earth: 231 miles per hour, recorded April 12, 1934 by Mount Washington Observatory staff. The world record remained in place until 1996, when Tropical Cyclone Olivia hit Barrow Island, Australia, but 231 mph remains the record high for the United States.

The highest peak in the northeastern U.S., Mount Washington has a height of 6,288 feet. Its location in the crossroads of storm systems from the Atlantic, the Gulf, and the Pacific Northwest, is responsible for its gusty winds and volatile weather.