For an average adult, winds around 70 mph (about 113 km/h) or higher are typically strong enough to knock a person over, though lighter people or those off-balance can be toppled at somewhat lower speeds. Even lower speeds (40–50 mph) can make it hard to walk straight, especially in gusts or on slippery ground.

Key wind speed ranges

  • Around 25–35 mph: Walking becomes noticeably difficult, and you may be pushed or stumble, but most healthy adults can stay on their feet.
  • Around 40–45 mph: A 100 lb (45 kg) person can start to be moved or shoved by the wind, especially by strong gusts or in open areas.
  • Around 60–70 mph: Strong risk of being knocked over; this is in the range of severe gale to low-end hurricane-force wind, and even heavier adults can be toppled.
  • Above 70 mph: Many people will struggle to remain standing at all, and flying debris becomes a major danger, often more hazardous than the force of the wind on the body itself.

What it depends on

  • Body weight and size : Lighter or smaller individuals, including children, are pushed over at lower speeds because the same wind force accelerates them more.
  • Stance and balance: Leaning into the wind, crouching, or holding onto something solid raises the threshold; being caught side-on or mid-step lowers it.
  • Surface and surroundings: Ice, wet pavement, or loose gravel make slipping and falling much easier at speeds that might otherwise be manageable.
  • Gusts vs steady wind: Sudden gusts can momentarily exceed the “average” speed, which is often when people actually lose their footing.

Safety takeaway

  • Treat anything above about 40 mph as potentially hazardous for walking in exposed areas, particularly for smaller or less steady people.
  • Once winds approach 60–70 mph or more, staying indoors and away from windows is strongly advised, because both knockdown risk and debris hazards rise sharply.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.