Cape Denison in Commonwealth Bay, Antarctica, is listed as the windiest place on the planet in the Guinness Book of World Records. Winds are recorded at over 150 mph on a regular basis, and the average annual wind speed is 50 mph. The region holds the record for the fastest katabatic or downslope winds, caused by cold, dense air at high altitude being forced by gravity to flow downhill. The winds are driven into the 60 km wide bay, causing snow blizzards and intensely powerful whirlpools.
Storms are caused by katabatic wind, a concentrated flow of cold air moving along the steep surface of the ice shield towards the sea. The air flow is accelerated by the increasing gradient of the surface of ice and the cliff monolith at Cape Denison. In the summer there are periods of relative calm but during winter storms are especially strong and long lasting, and can start and end unexpectedly. An abrupt start and end of storm might be accompanied by powerful whirlpools and expressive short-lived and fast-moving clouds at the coast line.
Despite the extreme weather, the coast of Commonwealth Bay is an important breeding area for Antarctic petrels, emperor penguins, and Adelie penguins which means that there are also Leopard seals.
Picture Credit : Google
