In message , Rob Brooks
writes
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.


By definition, terms such as 'gale', 'storm' etc refer only to the mean
wind speed. Gusts do not come into it.

To muddy the waters a bit, I believe that gale warnings are issued by
the Met Office when the mean wind speed is expected to reach 34 knots or
more OR if gusts are expected to reach 43 knots or more. Therefore,
expected gusts of 43 knots trigger a gale warning but the occurrence of
43 knot gusts does not mean that a gale has occurred. That requires a
mean speed of 34 knots or more over a 10-minute period. (I may not have
got that completely correct so if anyone knows better please say so).

Norman.
(delete "thisbit" twice to e-mail)
--
Norman Lynagh Weather Consultancy
Chalfont St Giles 85m a.s.l.
England