2 replies to this topic

[DeeCeeM]

Gsmatch brought to my attention an article on The Weather Channel's website about the hurricane force winds in Colorado yesterday. Of course, having been through a hurricane myself, I realize how serious that can be. However, scrolling down to the comments below the article, the very first one I saw pretty much put it all in perspective.

Quote

I have never actually been scared that my dog would blow away if I let him out to pee. Last night I was.

(Well, I thought it was funny.)

[Allie]

Weatherbee posted that he had a 93 mph wind gust that took out part of his wood fence around his property.

[DrCloud]

Having been through Colorado windstorms (both in Boulder and in Estes Park) and a hurricane here in Florida, I'd choose the former, for a couple of reasons.

• Colorado windstorms happen more frequently (a few times each winter), so everything tends to stay pruned (and this latest one seems to have done some of that pruning), whereas the fast-growing, soft tropical vegetation in Florida makes for a real post-hurricane mess everywhere instead of on top of a few cars here and there;
  
• Hurricanes generally last longer, and any kind of windstorm gets old fast.

There's also a some difference associated with the air density -- an Estes Park wind of, say, 70 mph is equivalent to about a 62 mph wind at sea level, in terms of the force it exerts on things.

Still, either sucks -- er, no, make that "blows." HPH