For skyscrapers, the predominant loading mechanism likely to cause failure is typically lateral loading in the form of windstorms or earthquakes, depending on the specific location. For example, in the US, buildings on the West Coast are typically controlled by seismic (earthquake) loading while the East Coast is controlled by windstorms, including hurricanes.

Structures are built to resist environmental loading events – including earthquakes, windstorms and snowstorms – that have a mean recurrence interval of 50 years. This means the design basis uses events that on average will occur once every 50 years – though of course it is possible for a 50-year storm to occur in consecutive years. Structures are also built to ensure safety in the event that they are overloaded beyond the calculated "design event" and/or to account for mistakes in the building's design or construction . In this way, the maximum 50-year storm is amplified considerably.......Continue Reading

> via independent.co.uk