Bird's Eye View

Hurricane Dennis, 10 July 2005:

Strongest winds with tropical storms/hurricanes occur in the eyewall, with dramatic increase in speed the closer you are to the actual eye, which itself is relatively calm. Most locations along the Florida panhandle are observing peak gusts of 20 - 30 knots at the time of this shot. Eglin Air Force Base estimates peak gusts of 40 knots (Air Force wind sensors are notoriously unreliable) the highest reported at this time.

Sustained surface winds of at least 34 knots are required to meet tropical storm criteria, and 64 knots is minimal hurricane speed. You'll rarely (as in never) hear accurate media reports on actual hurricane wind strength. Although local reporters in hurricane country often do fine work, at the national level reporters don't fact check actual reports from observing sites. Instead they typically report the National Hurricane Center forecast of maximum winds expected as if it were an actual occurrence. Thus you end up with bizarre and sensational stories like this one.

Not to downplay the intensity of this storm - it's strong, and it's going to punch the coast hard. But a lot of previous sensational type reporting - and exaggeration of minor storms into major stories - contributes to the lack of response on the part of many to a major storm when one does come along.

If you're interested in checking actual conditions, go here and enter these 4-letter identifiers in the window: KVPS KPFN KNPA KPNS KCEW KMOB

KVPS (Eglin)
KPFN (Panama City Fl)
KNPA (Navy Pensacola)
KPNS (Pensacola Fl)
KCEW (Crestview Fl)
KMOB (Mobile Al)

"METARS" are surface observations; "TAFS" are forecasts. Select the "translated" option if you aren't familiar with the code format.