The drivers of variations in wind extremes, such as maximum surface wind speed (MSWS), are important considerations in long-term wind speed studies in urbanized regions, and the contribution of changed surface roughness has been well-examined. However, the contribution of other drivers of the variation in MSWS, including atmospheric circulation and increasing surface air temperature, remains largely unknown. This study integrated statistical methods, spatial mapping techniques, meteorological station data, and land use products to investigate the spatiotemporal influence and integrated contribution rates of surface air temperature, surface roughness, and atmospheric circulation on MSWS in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, China. The annual mean MSWS decreased (−0.662 m·s−1·10a−1) during 1973–2011 and increased (0.115 m·s−1·10a−1) during 2011–2020, whereas the seasonal changes differed significantly, with changes in the mean MSWS in winter being greater than in the other seasons. Moreover, increases in surface air temperature owing to surface roughness change, as well as atmospheric circulation (annual total explanatory power: 91.2%) contributed to MSWS changes from 1973 to 2020. The explanatory power of the integrated contribution was clearly influenced by urbanization, especially at the high urbanization level in the warm season (>86%), and the influence of atmospheric circulation was higher than that of urbanization in the cold seasons at the moderate level (>83%), implying that atmospheric circulation partially affected the key role of urbanization in the reversal of MSWS. The analysis framework of this study, which is based on the contribution rates of surface air temperature, surface roughness, and atmospheric circulation, is transferable to other cities and can be utilized to assist in both decreasing the risk of urban wind extremes and improving wind resource utilization.