February 20th 2024.
Typically, when we think of flying, we imagine smooth, peaceful conditions. However, that wasn't the case this past weekend. In fact, for some lucky passengers, strong winds actually helped decrease their travel time. According to NPR, on Saturday, Feb. 17, the National Weather Service issued a windspeed warning for eastbound travelers. In a tweet, the agency informed passengers to expect a "quite a tail wind" if they were headed east during that time.
But little did anyone know just how strong these winds would be. In fact, this evening's weather balloon launch revealed that the high-altitude winds over the Mid-Atlantic were the second strongest recorded since the mid 20th century. At an altitude of around 34,000-35,000 feet, the winds reached an impressive peak of 230 knots. And for those flying eastbound, this meant a significant boost in speed.
In fact, it was reported that at least two commercial flights landed at their destinations earlier than expected, thanks to these incredible tail winds. One of these flights was a Virgin Atlantic flight from Washington, D.C. to London, which had its flight time cut by a whopping 45 minutes. The Boeing 787 aircraft even reached a maximum ground speed of 802 mph, surpassing the speed of sound at 767 mph.
But Virgin Atlantic wasn't the only airline to benefit from these strong winds. A United Airlines flight from Newark, N.J. to Lisbon, Portugal also saw a decrease in travel time, arriving at its destination 20 minutes earlier than scheduled. This was all thanks to the Boeing 787 reaching an impressive peak ground speed of 838 mph.
These speeds were truly remarkable, and it's not the first time that such record-breaking speeds have been achieved. In February 2020, a British Airways flight on a Boeing 747 reached a top speed of 825 mph, setting a record for subsonic trans-Atlantic flight time. And according to the National Weather Service office in the Washington, D.C. area, the winds at cruising altitude peaked at a staggering 265 mph. This is only the second-highest wind speed recorded in the region since 1948, with the highest-ever wind speed being 267 mph on Dec. 6, 2002.
It's clear that these strong winds had a significant impact on air travel, making for a memorable and speedy flight experience. And while it may not be the most common occurrence, it's certainly a reminder of the power and unpredictability of nature.
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