Strongest winds

[StormingB81]

Between Frances, Jeanne, and Wilma, I experienced many hours of 75-85 sustained winds and distinctly remember a few moments where I estimate the gusts were near 100+. There is an unsettling feeling when the winds approach 100 mph.

I can agree with this one the two Super Typhoons when stationed overseas in Japan we were told the windows can withstand winds up to 200 MPH still didnt trust them..at 130mph winds those windows were bowing and I stayed away from them I wasn't going to chance it

[salescall]

I can remember several NC Hurricanes...
1984 - Hurricane Diana - I was 13 and remember being glued to the TV wondering when it was going to come ashore. It was a Cat 4 for a while and weakened when it came ashore. I think the winds were 70/80 mph at my house.
1989 - Hurricane Hugo - I was at school at NC State at the time. We didn't get hit as hard as Charleston and Charlotte, but the winds still knocked down lots of trees on campus. I'm guessing 45/50 mph winds.
1994 - Hurricane Gordon - I remember the winds weren't that bad, but the rains never ended. I'm guessing 45/50 mph winds.
1996 - Hurricane Bertha - The winds were probably 75 mph at my house.
1996 - Hurricane Fran - This was the storm that caused major damage my parents coastal property on the Pamlico Sound. The winds were sustained at about 80 mph at my house. I remember going to help with the cleanup at my parents place and finding a tree that had been submerged for years, laying through our screened in porch. It was easily 40 feet long. The storm surge must have been immense.

I missed most of the other big NC storms (esp. Floyd) after moving away, but did get to experience Alex with my kids in 2004. I was visiting my parents new place near Harkers Island. The winds were sustained at 60 mph with gusts up to 85. My kids were riding their bikes in the rain seeing how fast they could go with the wind. It was hilarious.

The scariest wind I ever experienced was while fishing off of Morehead City. We were trying to outrun a thunderstorm, and made it just about to the Port when the storm caught us. I set anchor just before the wind an rain got there. We took shelter in the (small) cabin and were hit with a couple of strong microbursts. It turned the boat on it's side and pulled the anchor. My brother and I were able to reset the anchor before another squall line came through. It was the most nervous I have been in a weather event. I would estimate that the gusts were easily 75/80 mph. Hope to never go through anything like that again.

[BigB0882]

For me it would probably be Gustav. I don't remember the exact numbers here in Baton Rouge but they were very near the highest ever recorded from a hurricane for our area. I think we had 65-70 mph sustained and gusts to about 90. Nothing at all like some of you but I live far enough inland and we have been lucky to not take a direct hit from a major. I want to say the highest ever from a hurricane in Baton Rouge was not much over what we got so it seems Baton Rouge is eventually due for a more direct hit from a 3 or 4, in which case those numbers will be blown away (pun intended).