Norman Lynagh wrote:

Definitions on land are somewhat different. A gale is deemed to have
occurred on land if the mean speed is 34 knots or more for a period of
at least 10 minutes (at least I think that is the current UKMO
definition - others may know better)

Interesting - I think this rings a bell with another thread in the
past. Certainly suggests that "hurricane force" winds measured over
land have different definitions in the UK and US: UK measuring by
10-min sustained and US measuring by 1-min sustained. I've seen a 1.12
factor for converting between the two that suggests a UK sustained wind
of 66mph (about 57kt) would probably be around hurricane force in US
"money".

Richard