On Nov 25, 11:31*am, "Norman" wrote:
While not wanting to talk down the severity of last night's storm I think the
circumstances of the much publicised 126 mph gust in the Faeroes should be
considered.

The gust was measured at Akraberg which is at the southern tip of the Faeroe
Islands. The weather station is listed as being at a height of 99m above sea
level. It is at a lighthouse. A good set of photos starts at the following:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/1471677.../set-721576153...

These show that the anemometer sensor appears to be on top of the lighthouse.
The location is on an extremely exposed rock headland with a sheer cliff on the
west side down to the sea. It looks as though there could be considerable
enhancement of the wind speed due to the air being forced to rise over the
headland.

Due to its height and exposure it is almost certain that in SW winds (the
direction at the time of the big gust) the anemometer will experience winds
substantially stronger than would be experienced at the standard 10m height
over the sea away from the effects of the land. I am sure that the 126 mph gust
that was measured is not representative of anything other than the location *at
which it was measured. Having said that, it was still a storm of considerable
note.

I'm sure that the 944 mb on the ssp at the moment is only indicative
of local pressures too.

Not fit to report on the weather forecast maybe.
If it had happened near Shoeburyness, that would have been different.

The USA has no such problems with their geography when they write
about Mt Washington.

Do you not suspect that the architect should have specified it was a
lighthouse and they put such things in exposed places for a reason,
when the people who had the daft idea of putting an anemometer there
consulted him?