How hurricane winds are reportedHurricanes are rated according to the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale, which categorizes storms based on their maximum sustained winds. Usually, those advertised sustained winds don’t materialize over land, and if they do, it’s over an extremely localized area. And when the National Hurricane Center refers to “sustained winds,” it’s actually describing a wind sustained for at least a minute some 10 meters, or 33 feet, above the ground. These instruments can help cross-check the SFMR data, and help the National Hurricane Center put a number on a storm’s intensity. AD“I still think [the definition of maximum sustained winds is] awfully abstract to people,” Jasko said.

Source: Washington Post September 05, 2020 12:47 UTC