So, how fast IS that wind, really?

[Captain Smollett]

We had a bit of a blow here at the 2 Rivers yesterday as that front passed.  I've enjoyed the discussions in the Captain's Lounge today regarding how hard it was blowing.

I've been aboard my Alberg at anchor in NWS confirmed 50 knots of wind.  I've also been out in my little 18-footer in NWS confirmed 32 kt sustained, 40+ kt gusts.  I looked up the 'published' Recorded Winds for New Bern, NC yesterday.  Top published gust was 54 mph (47 knots) at 10:00.  I personally think that squares pretty well with my experience.

Others, however, swear up and down it was 70-75+ mph last night.  I cannot say they were wrong, necessarily.  First, they were on the windward dock, and I was to their lee.  Second, the 'official' readings at the airport (about one mile as the crow flies) are not necessarily the same as here on the river.

I did note, however, one comment that was made that is consistent with my own observations in other contexts.  Some folks tend to overestimate wind speeds to increase their sense of "adventure" at the dock.

One other point...though we did have some pretty righteous gusts last night, to my observation, the blow had settled down very noticeably by 21:00 or so, especially compared with earlier in the day.  The 70+ mph group all claim these big winds were last night.

So, what do ya'll think?  Did we really have hurricane force winds here yesterday/last night?

[AdriftAtSea]

Not likely over a broad area.  You're probably right that the people saying so are overestimating the wind speed.  However, on a very localized basis, depending on the geography, terrain, etc., you might have had localized winds that strong... but I kind of doubt it. 

[okawbow]

I've seen my little hand-held wind meter spike up to 2x the average wind speed during gusts. However; I don't think the gusts are counted when relating wind speeds. If you saw 50 mph sustained wind speed, then it is possible there were 75mph gusts.

[Captain Smollett]

I've seen my little hand-held wind meter spike up to 2x the average wind speed during gusts. However; I don't think the gusts are counted when relating wind speeds. If you saw 50 mph sustained wind speed, then it is possible there were 75mph gusts.

No, the max recorded GUST at the airport was 47 kts.  The max sustained was in the 30's.  I personally don't think the gusts exceeded 50 kts or thereabouts.  Here, some agree with me, some are in the 70+ crowd.   ;)

[AdriftAtSea]

Capn S—

If the max sustained winds were in the 30s, I find it hard to believe that there were gusts in the 70s.. :)