The long-standing record for the strongest recorded wind gust, held by New Hampshire since 1934 with a gust of 231 mph at Mount Washington, has been replaced after acceptance by a panel of experts reviewing extreme weather and climate data of a report of a gust at Australia's Barrow Island during Cyclone Olivia in 1996, clocked at 253 mph.

The 14 year delay in recognition of the Aussie record quite probably was due to the difficulty of finding Aussie witnesses reputable enough to be believed, although no official acknowledgement of a reason for the delay appears to have been included in the report from the World Meteorological Organization.

It is reported that New Hampshire faces something of an "identity crisis" with the loss of the record for their "Big Blow," as the only other thing locals have had available to brag about was the "Old Man of the Mountain," a rock outcropping that appeared to have the profile of a man, featured on the state's quarter (in the recent US Mint series). The Old Man reportedly crumbled ca. 2003, and is now just a heap of rocks.

The news report may be viewed at N.H. loses strongest wind gust record

[brief quote]

231 mph gust that was source of pride eclipsed by 253 mph in Australia
The Associated Press
updated 3:15 p.m. CT, Tues., Jan. 26, 2010

CONCORD, N.H. - First the Old Man, now the Big Wind.

New Hampshire's Mount Washington has lost its distinction as the site of the fastest wind gust ever recorded on Earth, officials at the Mount Washington Observatory conceded on Tuesday.

The concession came three days after the World Meteorological Organization posted a snippet on its Web site saying a panel of experts reviewing extreme weather and climate data turned up a 253 mph gust on Australia's Barrow Island during Cyclone Olivia in 1996.

That tops the 231 mph record set atop Mount Washington on April 12, 1934.

"It's obviously a big disappointment. Having the world record for over six decades was such a part of the soul of this organization and for fans of Mount Washington around the country," said Scot Henley, the observatory's executive director.

The official title at issue is "highest wind gust ever recorded on the surface of the Earth by means of an anemometer." But to most people in New Hampshire, it was simply "the Big Wind," a source of pride in a state that also revered its Old Man of the Mountain, a rock outcropping that appeared to be a man's profile and was featured on the state's quarter.

The Old Man crumbled to bits in 2003, seven years after the wind record apparently toppled.

[end quote]

Additional comment in the article may be of interest, although it omits comment on Aussies' and their common reputations or on what New Hampshire may do to recover some semblance of their former braggin' rights.

Mudcatters are invited to comment on anything they might think of that New Hampshire can brag about, or on whether Aussies deserve their well-known reputation(s).

John