The World’s Fastest Atmospheric Winds

<p>The jet stream is typically located at&nbsp;<strong>altitudes ranging from 9 to 16 kilometers</strong>&nbsp;(<em>30,000 to 52,000 feet</em>) above the Earth&rsquo;s surface.</p> <p>Jet stream winds have&nbsp;<strong>average speeds of 160 to 240 km/h</strong>&nbsp;(<em>150 mph</em>), although&nbsp;<strong>higher speeds exceeding 400 km/h&nbsp;</strong>(<em>250 mph</em>) can be observed.</p> <p>The jet stream&nbsp;<strong>bands are relatively narrow</strong>, usually a&nbsp;<strong>few hundred kilometers</strong>&nbsp;wide.</p> <p>It&rsquo;s typically divided into<strong>&nbsp;two main bands</strong>:</p> <ul> <li><strong>The subtropical jet stream</strong>, which is located at approximately 30 degrees latitude north and/or south,</li> <li><strong>The polar jet stream</strong>, which is found at higher latitudes, is around 60 degrees latitude.</li> </ul> <p>The location of the jet stream&nbsp;<strong>varies with the seasons</strong>. It moves&nbsp;<strong>southward in winter</strong>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<strong>northward in summer</strong>&nbsp;in the Northern Hemisphere.</p> <p><a href="https://medium.com/@Hydrau/the-worlds-fastest-atmospheric-winds-c8ea9fd9c8d8"><strong>Learn More</strong></a></p>