Spend any period of time in the Mount Rushmore State and you'll hear people complain about how windy it is here. But is it in fact, the windiest state? And how does it stack up against the rest of the U.S.?

The data analyzing website, stacker factored in a number of key details in determining the windiest states, including the average wind speed in each state.

Here are the top 5 windiest states:

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Going-to-the-Sun Road
Patty Dee
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5) Montana: Average wind speed 20.5 mph. If you're looking to avoid the wind here, steer clear of East Glacier, which is said to have the highest wind speeds in the entire state.

 

Image via Clipart
Image via Clipart
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4) Nebraska: Average wind speed 20.5 mph. Nebraska's windiest month of the year? April.

gabe popa // Flickr
gabe popa // Flickr
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3) Michigan: Average wind speed 20.9 mph. With as much wind as Michigan gets, it should be no surprise that they have more wind farms than most states. Michigan also gets a lot of lake effect wind, as it's nearly surrounded by the Great Lakes of Huron, Superior, Erie, and of course, Lake Michigan.

Devils Tower, Wyoming
United States National Park Service
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2) Wyoming: Average wind speed 21.5 mph. Why is Wyoming so windy? Mainly due to its location and close proximity to the continental divide. It also sits in the ideal spot for the jet stream to cause mischief.

Andy Gott: TSM
Andy Gott: TSM
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1) Alaska: Average wind speed 21.9 mph. Yep, our largest state is also our windiest? Surprised? Don't be. The last frontier has to deal with coastal and interior winds all year long.

So, where does South Dakota rank on the list?

As it turns out, we're just outside the top 5 at number 6. South Dakota's average wind speed is 20.3 mph.

To see the full list and find out what the least windy state is (hint, it's known as the sunshine state) visit the Stacker website.

Story Source: Stacker

Do You Remember These 10 Crazy Snowstorms In South Dakota?

Here's some news that some South Dakotans prefer not to hear this time of year. Winter is coming. In denial? The dropping temperatures and early snowstorms out west by Deadwood speak for themselves.

Slowly but surely, people of the Sioux Empire are bracing for colder weather and snow-covered roads. Even though snow will soon be gracing the Sioux Empire with its presence, some snow showers will not compare to these ten dreadful snowstorms that hit South Dakota.

Only In Your State highlights these ten snowstorms in South Dakota as a reminder for people to always be aware of the roads during the winter. These South Dakotan winters can be harsh, which is why it is always a good idea to plan ahead and prepare for the worst.

Do you remember any major snowstorms that hit South Dakota?

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