High winds are caused when there are places that cause the wind to speed up. When the wind goes over a ridge it works the same as an airfoil (shape of a wing that makes it lift). Higher winds also exist in canyons that face the prevailing winds as the canyon acts as a funnel. Have you noticed how high the winds are in a mountain pass? In the selection of land, it is wise to avoid these formations so as to avoid the higher winds. Have you noticed where they build the windfarms?
One of the largest windfarms of which I am aware is east of San Bernardino, CA where the conditions mentioned above exist. Another windfarm is planned for the top of the Vermillion Cliffs northwest of Seligman.
It is also wise to avoid areas where there are no trees as the trees act as windbreaks to reduce the speed of the wind. Our winds in Prescott are not as strong as they would be at a lower elevation. The air at 5,000' elevation is not as dense as it is at lower elevations, so the wind forces are not as strong.
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