WMO lists new wind gust record 113.2 m/s (253 mph; 220 kt)

[Ric Werme]

I know of some event that challenged the MWO record, but I'm not sure if this is the same event or not, I think not. It is from 1996, I'm not sure what took them so long to investigate, this sounds like a new declaration.

http://wmo.asu.edu/world-maximum-surface-wind-gust
http://wmo.asu.edu/
http://www.wmo.int/pages/mediacentre...nfo_58_en.html

[fifteendays]

I know of some event that challenged the MWO record, but I'm not sure if this is the same event or not, I think not. It is from 1996, I'm not sure what took them so long to investigate, this sounds like a new declaration.

http://wmo.asu.edu/world-maximum-surface-wind-gust
http://wmo.asu.edu/
http://www.wmo.int/pages/mediacentre...nfo_58_en.html

Thanks for posting this, Ric. We're obviously very, very interested in the WMO's findings and we are working to learn more.

Scot Henley, Executive Director
Mount Washington Observatory

[Ric Werme]

http://www.bom.gov.au/weather/wa/cyc...a/olivia.shtml has the track and satellite image.

No mention of the Barrow Is. wind speeds:

TC Olivia was an intense cyclone that crossed the Pilbara coast near Mardie station between Onslow and Dampier. It caused wind gusts to 267 km/h offshore and 257 km/h at Mardie station, some of the highest gusts ever recorded in Australia's history.

WMUR noted the new record this morning. I notified NECN yesterday but I don't know if they've aired anything.

The study concluded the gust was from a small vortex in the eyewall, which makes a lot of sense. If so, it's a rather significant measurement of something largely studied by debris fields from hurricane Andrew and a near disastrous flight into Hurrican Hugo.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m...3/ai_13434075/
http://www.wunderground.com/education/hugo1.asp (See page 5)

[fifteendays]

Hi folks,

Here's a link to our press release regarding the Australian record wind:
http://www.mountwashington.org/news/release.php?id=49

Scot

[h2oeco]

The Observatory has created a page on their site re: this topic with more information and related news links:

http://observatory.mountwashington.o...ld_record_wind

Ed

[Bill O]

Yawn...it doesn't get much more boring than a wind gust recorded at an unmanned station, especially when it happened almost 14 years ago. On any given day I bet 200mph winds are occurring someplace on the planet. A couple times a year (maybe less) some field in the Great Plains experiences a 300mph wind gust.

Mount Washington's record windspeed wasn't special just because it was fast. It was famous because of the story behind the event.

[KD Talbot]

I'm with Bill, it's the story, not the speed.

Besides, unless Barrow Island has a 6288' mountain where they record the windspeeds, Mount Washington is STILL the "Highest"!

KDT

[h2oeco]

I just said something similar to someone else - the people involved, the location, and the weather overall are all equally important to the story of the Obs "Big Wind."

In contrast, a story about a wind gust recorded by an unmanned anemometer, in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by sheep, makes for a much less impressive tale... and pales by comparison...

Ed

[mtruman]

In contrast, a story about a wind gust recorded by an unmanned anemometer, in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by sheep, makes for a much less impressive tale... and pales by comparison...
Ed

Unless you're one of the sheep

[Anna LeBlanc]

Unless you're one of the sheep

POOR SHEEP!!!

____________

Anna