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Mean wind speed, monthly profiles, and energy potential at 34.25°N, 110.03°W
Average wind speed at 100m hub height for each month of the year.
Show Low experiences peak winds during March (8.18 m/s) with lowest speeds in August (4.55 m/s). The seasonal pattern shows strong winter and spring winds with calmer summer conditions.
The ratio between peak and minimum monthly wind speed is 1.80, indicating significant seasonal variation. Energy production will be notably higher during windy months, which should be factored into PPA pricing and revenue projections.
Wind speed increases with height due to reduced surface friction. Modern turbines typically operate at 80-120m hub height.
| Height | Wind Speed (m/s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 10m | 4.19 | Standard measurement height |
| 50m | 5.73 | Small/distributed turbines |
| 80m | 6.29 | Mid-size turbines |
| 100m | 6.57 | Modern utility-scale turbines |
Arizona ranks #25 nationally for wind energy capacity, making it a growing participant in the US wind energy market. The state's high desert and mesa edges define its wind resource characteristics across different regions and elevations.
Arizona has a small but growing wind energy sector with approximately 0.6 GW installed. As turbine technology advances and development costs decrease, additional sites across the state are becoming economically viable.
Arizona's wind resources are concentrated in areas where terrain features accelerate airflow — mountain passes, mesa edges, and high-elevation plateaus. The arid climate also means low air density, which is accounted for in turbine class ratings.
The mean wind speed in Show Low, Arizona is 6.57 m/s at 100m hub height, 6.29 m/s at 80m, and 4.19 m/s at 10m. Wind power density at this location is 173.4 W/m², classified as IEC Wind Class IV.
Show Low has a wind quality rating of "Moderate" based on its mean wind speed of 6.57 m/s at hub height. This location may be suitable for wind energy development with modern large-rotor turbines. Peak winds occur in March (8.18 m/s) with lowest speeds in August (4.55 m/s).
Small or distributed wind turbines may be most appropriate for this site. Vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) or small horizontal axis turbines designed for low-wind environments should be evaluated for site-specific conditions.
Based on the mean wind speed near Show Low, a modern 3 MW turbine could produce approximately 6.3 GWh per year (capacity factor ~24%). That is enough to power roughly 601 average American homes. A 100 MW wind farm at this location could generate approximately 208 GWh annually, worth $7284.6M at $35/MWh wholesale electricity prices.
Explore wind data for nearby cities, sorted by wind quality.