BS: New Record for Blowhard-ness

Subject: BS: New Record for Blowhard-ness
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 27 Jan 10 - 12:30 PM

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

Subject: RE: BS: New Record for Blowhard-ness
From: SINSULL
Date: 27 Jan 10 - 12:35 PM

Keene, NH holds the record for the most lit jack 'o lanterns on Halloween at one time. Have held it for years, Ask Micca. He witnessed it.

Subject: RE: BS: New Record for Blowhard-ness
From: Donuel
Date: 27 Jan 10 - 12:38 PM

I spent one summer in NH and the people were sincere friendly thinking people who did not seem to have an over arching agenda, secret, religion or predjudice that colors everything here around DC.

Subject: RE: BS: New Record for Blowhard-ness
From: SINSULL
Date: 27 Jan 10 - 12:48 PM

All of the NH people I know are great - generous, hard working, talented, etc. Good people.

Subject: RE: BS: New Record for Blowhard-ness
From: Ebbie
Date: 27 Jan 10 - 12:54 PM

Wow. 253. One of the mountains looming above Juneau, Alaska, has a wind monitor on it. Periodically we have 'Taku Winds', strong clear winds that can blow for days. Down here gusts easily hit 70 mph but on the mountain it regularly logs 200 mph plus. I thought that was fast.

Subject: RE: BS: New Record for Blowhard-ness
From: Bill D
Date: 27 Jan 10 - 02:23 PM

Gusts are 'interesting', but the F5 tornado that whacked Oklahoma City a few years ago had sustained winds in that range.

Subject: RE: BS: New Record for Blowhard-ness
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 27 Jan 10 - 03:02 PM

When I read the title, I thought this was a thread about certain mudcatters' flatulence. I don't think they live in New Hampshire which New Hampshire should be damn proud of. Though if they did, maybe they could get the blow hard title back again.

If New Hampshire is so named because it bears resemblance to Hampshire UK, then WOW, what a lovely state it must be.

Some paraphrased snips from wikipedia.

It became the first post-colonial sovereign nation in the Americas when it broke off from Great Britain in January 1776.

It is known internationally for the New Hampshire primary, the first primary in the quadrennial U.S. presidential election cycle. This shapes the presidential contest.

The majority of New Hampshire's registered voters are registered independent. Yay! They don't let a party tell them what's what! I like that.

New Hampshire has low electoral vote but don't those votes pack a powerful wallop?

New Hampshire is on my list of places to visit when /if we do a fall colour tour of New England.

Thanks for starting the thread. Pushed me to learn more about the little gem.

Subject: RE: BS: New Record for Blowhard-ness
From: gnu
Date: 27 Jan 10 - 03:08 PM

NH motto... Live Free or Die... ya gotta respect that!

And... I agree with SINS on the peeps from NH... >;-)

Subject: RE: BS: New Record for Blowhard-ness
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 27 Jan 10 - 03:11 PM

See how a little gentle slur gets testimonials for people we truly admire.

(Note the absence of any comment about the Aussies.)

Of course it is dark there now so they're probably all out drinkin'(?).

John

Subject: RE: BS: New Record for Blowhard-ness
From: Ebbie
Date: 27 Jan 10 - 04:40 PM

lol John. You have made them feel much better.

For the record, I'm sure there must be some out there but as of yet I have not met an Australian I didn't like.

Subject: RE: BS: New Record for Blowhard-ness
From: olddude
Date: 27 Jan 10 - 04:47 PM

NH folks are wonderful, but a certain lady that can see Russia from where she lives in Alaska she wins the windy award

Subject: RE: BS: New Record for Blowhard-ness
From: katlaughing
Date: 27 Jan 10 - 04:50 PM

As the wife of a native of NH who is himself the son of one native NH and a transplanted French Canadian, I was very sad when the Old Man crumbled. I'd been to see him. I'd also been to see Mt. Washington, though we did not go to the top. It was beautiful, but not very impressive, as a mountain, to me, having grown up in the Rockies. Still, I was amazed at the wind speed and also from what my Rog told me about the top of it and communications details, tx, etc.

I don't think it's fair to take away the Big Blow...it was just an ordinary day for NH...no cyclone needed to take over the lead! (No offence to OZCatters.)*bg*

NH is a beautiful state with some damn fine people.

Subject: RE: BS: New Record for Blowhard-ness
From: CarolC
Date: 27 Jan 10 - 04:52 PM

New Hampshire has incredibly beautiful mountains, ocean (it's a short coastline, but Hampton Beach is the location of some of my favorite childhood memories), beautiful historic villages, lovely clear lakes and streams... what more does it need?

Subject: RE: BS: New Record for Blowhard-ness
From: CarolC
Date: 27 Jan 10 - 04:56 PM

By the way, I've climbed to the summit of Mt. Washington, and even though it's not as high as the mountains in some other parts of the world, it's no less beautiful.

Subject: RE: BS: New Record for Blowhard-ness
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 27 Jan 10 - 06:35 PM

When a cousin from Kansas visited us in Boston, we took him for a little drive.

He was very impressed by the NH farms, declaring it to be "the first place I've ever seen where you can farm both sides of the land."

And it appeared that they did.

John

Subject: RE: BS: New Record for Blowhard-ness
From: SINSULL
Date: 28 Jan 10 - 01:09 PM

NH has the Press Room.

Subject: RE: BS: New Record for Blowhard-ness
From: CarolC
Date: 28 Jan 10 - 01:15 PM

New Hampshire also has this (beer bottle on top of a church steeple) in the village where my aunt and uncle lived most of their lives.

Subject: RE: BS: New Record for Blowhard-ness
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 28 Jan 10 - 02:53 PM

NH loses it's status as the big blow and what happens?

JD Salinger dies on the next day in NH. Is it merely coincidence?

Subject: RE: BS: New Record for Blowhard-ness
From: frogprince
Date: 28 Jan 10 - 04:06 PM

Wuttheheck is the significance of the lettering on that clock on the church?

Subject: RE: BS: New Record for Blowhard-ness
From: katlaughing
Date: 28 Jan 10 - 04:27 PM

It says, "Memorial Gift." Not sure why they had to note it in such a way, though.

I was going to say NH could start touting about Hannah Duston more, but it's not really the kind of thing you want to get into too much these days. I doubt if either side would appreciate it. Wonder if she inspired the state motto.

Subject: RE: BS: New Record for Blowhard-ness
From: Bert
Date: 28 Jan 10 - 06:32 PM

253 mph. Sounds like real camping weather to me.

Subject: RE: BS: New Record for Blowhard-ness
From: mousethief
Date: 28 Jan 10 - 08:00 PM

I thought I told you to tie that rock to that picnic table, son.

O..O
=o=

Subject: RE: BS: New Record for Blowhard-ness
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 29 Jan 10 - 04:30 AM

what picnic table, Dad?