165 knots or 190 mph found in Megi...Haiyan?
Product: Vortex Message (URPA12 PGUA)
Transmitted: 17th day of the month at 12:23Z
Aircraft: Air Force Aircraft (Last 3 digits of the tail number are 304)
Storm Number: 30
Storm Name: Megi (flight in the Northwest Pacific basin)
Mission Number: 8
Observation Number: 15
A. Time of Center Fix: 17th day of the month at 12:06:00Z
B. Center Fix Coordinates: 18°01'N 125°05'E (18.0167N 125.0833E) (View map)
C. Minimum Height at Standard Level: 2,151m (7,057ft) at 700mb
D. Estimated (by SFMR or visually) Maximum Surface Wind: 152kts (~ 174.9mph)E. Location of the Estimated Maximum Surface Wind: 7 nautical miles (8 statute miles) to the S (178°) of center fix
F. Maximum Flight Level Wind Inbound: From 266° at 152kts (From the W at ~ 174.9mph)
G. Location of Maximum Flight Level Wind Inbound: 7 nautical miles (8 statute miles) to the S (178°) of center fix
H. Minimum Sea Level Pressure: 893mb (26.37 inHg)
I. Maximum Flight Level Temp & Pressure Altitude Outside Eye: 9°C (48°F) at a pressure alt. of 3,048m (10,000ft)
J. Maximum Flight Level Temp & Pressure Altitude Inside Eye: 18°C (64°F) at a pressure alt. of 3,041m (9,977ft)
K. Dewpoint Temp (collected at same location as temp inside eye): 16°C (61°F)
K. Sea Surface Temp (collected at same location as temp inside eye): Not Available
L. Eye Character: Closed Wall
M. Eye Shape & Diameter: Circular with a diameter of 16 nautical miles (18 statute miles)
N. Fix Determined By: Penetration, Radar, Wind, Pressure and Temperature
N. Fix Level: 700mb
O. Navigation Fix Accuracy: 0.02 nautical miles
O. Meteorological Accuracy: 1 nautical mile
Remarks Section - Remarks That Were Decoded...
Maximum Wind Outbound: 190kts (~ 218.6mph) in the northwest quadrant at 12:09:10Z
Maximum Flight Level Wind: 190kts (~ 218.6mph) in the northwest quadrant at 12:09:10Z
Maximum Flight Level Temp: 19°C (66°F) which was observed 5 nautical miles to the NW (325°) from the flight level center
Remarks Section - Additional Remarks...
FREQUENT LIGHTNING IN THE EYEWALL
The aircraft measured winds at flight level (8,000 feet) of 220 mph. The SFMR surface wind measurement instrument recorded surface winds of 186 mph in regions where heavy rain was not contaminating the measurement, but found surface winds of 199 mph in one region of heavy rain. Now, this measurement is considered contaminated by rain, but at very high wind speeds, the contamination effect is less important than at lower hurricane wind speeds, and it is possible than Megi's surface winds are close to a sustained 200 mph. This is supported by the flight level winds of 220 mph, which support surface winds of 199 mph, using the usual 10% reduction rule of thumb.