Monarch Pass Wind Gust of 148 mph on 2/18/16

[HantaYo]

Well, the last week daily wind gusts up to 44 MPH but Monarch Pass (just west of us maybe 6 miles as the crow flies) had a possible wind gust of 148 MPH.  Weather service is investigating if such a high gust was plausible (they were forecasting gust up to 100 mph most of the week on the high mountain peaks and passes).

Now I am not sure I want to record such a wind speed- not sure the VP is rated for such wind.  Awful close to home.

http://www.weather.gov/pub/MYPwindgust

[Felix]

I think the Davis anemometer is rated for higher speeds than that but a better question might be whether your mounting hardware is sturdy enough to withstand wind gusts in that range without damage. I've gone through the low end of hurricane Cat II winds with mine w/o damage (neighbors lost some lawn furniture which was never recovered) but no gusts even approaching 148 mph.

[elagache]

Dear HantaYo, Felix, and WeatherCat station caregivers,

Well, the last week daily wind gusts up to 44 MPH but Monarch Pass (just west of us maybe 6 miles as the crow flies) had a possible wind gust of 148 MPH

. . .

Now I am not sure I want to record such a wind speed- not sure the VP is rated for such wind.  Awful close to home.

Definitely sobering!  The weather seems to be getting more and more severe.

I think the Davis anemometer is rated for higher speeds than that

You are correct.  My 2009 manual claims a top speed of only 150 mph, so my station would be close to failure.  However, the latest manual says 200 mph:

http://www.davisnet.com/product_documents/weather/manuals/07395-234_IM_06312.pdf

Go to page 56 of the manual.

. . . . but a better question might be whether your mounting hardware is sturdy enough to withstand wind gusts in that range without damage.

You are even more right on this point!

Cheers, Edouard 

[HantaYo]

Final word is the 148 wind gust is considered accurate and a new state record!  Glad it was not at my house.  My record wind gust of 67 mph was more than enough for me.

http://www.weather.gov/pub/MYPwindgust

Yea, I think my anemometer mast would bend like a tooth pick with such a wind even though it is only 24' high.

[elagache]

Dear HantaYo and WeatherCat observers of extreme weather,

Final word is the 148 wind gust is considered accurate and a new state record! 

That's one extreme wind gust!

Glad it was not at my house.  My record wind gust of 67 mph was more than enough for me.

Yea, I think my anemometer mast would bend like a tooth pick with such a wind even though it is only 24' high.

You can't be sure.  Steel masts are tough and they present relatively little wind resistance, but I certainly would never want to find out what are the stress limits of the mounts for my weather instruments.  I'm all in favor of new records being set - somewhere else!

Cheers, Edouard

[HantaYo]

My mast is aluminum attached to a steel pipe.  The steel would survive but I bet a gold dollar the aluminum mast would fold (no anchor wires but it is only 24' high)