Adam Lea wrote in news:-
:

On 27/08/11 10:30, Fonzy wrote:
if a storm of that force happened in the carribean, would it have
called
a tropical storm or a hurricane? if so what category would it be 1-5?


There were peak sustained winds recorded of 85 mph at Dover, but that
was a 10-minute mean. Hurricane categories are defined relative to a
1-minute mean, which is roughly 12% higher. That would give an
estimated
1-minute sustained wind at Dover of 95 mph which is the top end of
Category 1. However, it is extremely unlikely that this would represent
the peak wind within the whole storm and thus it is virtually certain
that higher winds would have been measured, say, over the channel. It
is
therefore likely that peak sustained wind speeds in the storm were
equivalent to a low-end category 2 hurricane.

Beat me to it, Adam - I often cite the 100 knot gust at Shoreham Airport
- which should convert back to about 84 knots for a 1-minute sustained if
my conversions for over-sea wind speed converstions are correct (highly
doubtful!). 84 knots = weak cat 2 winds.

Richard

"Col" wrote in message
...

"Freddie" wrote in message
.. .
On Sat, 27 Aug 2011 12:02:48 +0100, Fonzy wrote:
cool, but what number was it?

Just about scraped a 1 for a short time.

Yes, that has long been my understanding of it.
A few very exposed south coast locations managed a 10-minute
mean of 72 mph..

But that's a *mean* wind speed of course. A gust to hurricane
strength is nothing unusual and ocurrs around coasts & hills every
year in winter, and isn't particualrly unusual in many inland areas
either.

This is the basis of much angst amoung metereologists when
people think a gust of around 30 mph constitutes a 'gale' when
in fact it's nothing of the sort, you need an average wind speed
of that to be classed as a gale, which is a whole different exprerience.
--
Col

I've only ever observed a lowland gale once and that was at Finningley in
1970. Put a beaufort letter "g" in the obs register - cool. I'd only just
passed my observers course as well! (And yes the ob was checked by a
supervisor before transmission). Unofficially I have only ever experienced
lowland gales a handful of times and most of those were on the coast. I've
experienced very few upland gales as well, certainly don't get that many
here in Haytor!

Cheers,

Will
--

"Col" wrote in message
...

"Dave Cornwell" wrote in message
...
Col wrote:
"Freddie" wrote in message
.. .
On Sat, 27 Aug 2011 12:02:48 +0100, Fonzy
wrote:
cool, but what number was it?
Just about scraped a 1 for a short time.

Yes, that has long been my understanding of it.
A few very exposed south coast locations managed a 10-minute
mean of 72 mph..

But that's a *mean* wind speed of course. A gust to hurricane
strength is nothing unusual and ocurrs around coasts & hills every
year in winter, and isn't particualrly unusual in many inland areas
either.

This is the basis of much angst amoung metereologists when
people think a gust of around 30 mph constitutes a 'gale' when
in fact it's nothing of the sort, you need an average wind speed
of that to be classed as a gale, which is a whole different exprerience.
---------------------
What I do know is that storm was by a margin the most fearsome weather
experience I recall at home or abroad. (No doubt the 1953 floods near
here would have had more impact if I had been older than 3) We had gusts
of 120mph here and to see metal dustbins flying down the road like paper
cups and tiles crashing off your roof was pretty scary. The number of
massive trees across all the roads and woods completely flattened in rows
was a sight to behold. I still get nervous if I hear a strong wind
buffeting the house.

120mph?
I thought peak winds from the storm were of the order of 100mph,
and only then in the most exposed locations.

I can't quite match dustbins flying down the street but walking
back home from work over the highest part of Leeds during the
Burn's Night storm in 1990 is an experience I will never forget.
--
Col

Luxury. I did a short detachment to Shetland in 1980. A local
lighthousekeeper (who we passed forecasts to) told me that in a "proper
gale" he saw a cement mixer lift off the ground at Muckle Flugga. The mean
speed was 90 knots apparently, gusting "somewhere off the scale".
The Burns day storm blew down my mature Bramley apple tree in Crowthorne.
The pig sty survived :-)

Will
--

On Aug 28, 8:01*pm, "Will Hand" wrote:
"Col" wrote in message

...











"Dave Cornwell" wrote in message
...
Col wrote:
"Freddie" wrote in message
g...
On Sat, 27 Aug 2011 12:02:48 +0100, Fonzy
wrote:
cool, but what number was it?
Just about scraped a 1 for a short time.

Yes, that has long been my understanding of it.
A few very exposed south coast locations managed a 10-minute
mean of 72 mph..

But that's a *mean* wind speed of course. A gust to hurricane
strength is nothing unusual and ocurrs around coasts & hills every
year in winter, and isn't particualrly unusual in many inland areas
either.

This is the basis of much angst amoung metereologists when
people think a gust of around 30 mph constitutes a 'gale' when
in fact it's nothing of the sort, you need an average wind speed
of that to be classed as a gale, which is a whole different exprerience.
---------------------
What I do know is that storm was by a margin the most fearsome weather
experience I recall at home or abroad. (No doubt the 1953 floods near
here would have had more impact if I had been older than 3) We had gusts
of 120mph here and to see metal dustbins flying down the road like paper
cups and tiles crashing off your roof was pretty scary. The number of
massive trees across all the roads and woods completely flattened in rows
was a sight to behold. I still get nervous if I hear a strong wind
buffeting the house.

120mph?
I thought peak winds from the storm were of the order of 100mph,
and only then in the most exposed locations.

I can't quite match dustbins flying down the street but walking
back home from work over the highest part of Leeds during the
Burn's Night storm in 1990 is an experience I will never forget.
--
Col

Luxury. I did a short detachment to Shetland in 1980. A local
lighthousekeeper (who we passed forecasts to) told me that in a "proper
gale" he saw a cement mixer lift off the ground at Muckle Flugga. The mean
speed was 90 knots apparently, gusting "somewhere off the scale".
The Burns day storm blew down my mature Bramley apple tree in Crowthorne.
The pig sty survived :-)

Will
--

Gales were two a penny down here in the 80s. Kept taking big branches
off my Monterey Cypresses in the garden.
Used to come home from work hardly able to move in the garden for
branches.
Had to have them felled in the end. Too dangerous to man and beast.

Len Wood
Wembury, SW Devon