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High winds may be the result of a storm, hurricane, tornado or other weather event. Hazards include:
This document covers general situations when working in high winds. For other related topics, please see the OSH Answers for information such as Working in the Cold and Weather - Lightning.
Yes, it can be. Winds can be the result of tropical storms, low pressure systems or fronts, thunderstorms, Chinooks or local geography.
Environment and Climate Change Canada state that most of Canada will experience wind damage from "straight-line" winds. Straight-line winds are winds that move horizontally along the ground away from thunderstorms. They may also be known as microbursts, downbursts, squall lines, plough lines, or derechos. Winds can also contain swirling dust and debris. Straight-line winds can be as strong as tornados, but they can cause more destruction as they cover a much larger area.
Generally speaking, Enviroment and Climate Change Canada issues a wind warning when conditions include a sustained wind of 70km/h or more, and /or gusts up to 90 km/h or more (Note: there are some regional variations for when wind warnings are issued). At winds between 60 and 70 km/h, you will have difficulty with balance and walking against the wind.
High wind combined with heavy rain increases the risk of tree limbs breaking or trees uprooting.
The level of activity will depend on the wind speed, but general steps include:
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