From many years of recording weather data I have always struggled to
identify, statistically that is "days of gale" or "near gale etc etc.
Obviously the definition of a gale is mean wind speeds over a 10 minute
period reaching 34kt or equivalent. Gust speeds satistically do not count in
the "official" recognition of a gale.

How do people on this newsgroup show days of gale force winds.

It is very easy to achieve gusts to 43kt which again is classified as gale
force winds, but would this qualify officially - I think not.