Looking back at Hurricane Gustav's record 211 mph wind gust As
we look back at the weather events of 2008, perhaps the most
impressive record set during the year occurred during Hurricane
Gustav, which pounded Cuba as a Category 4 hurricane in August.
Gustav set a new world record for highest wind gust ever
measured in a hurricane. As Gustav passed over the Paso Real de
San Diego meteorological station in the western Cuban province
of Pinar del Rio, Cuba, on the afternoon of August 30, 2008, a
wind gust of 211 mph (94.4 m/s) was recorded (it was originally
pegged at 212 mph, but has been "downgraded" to 211 mph after an
official review by the World Meteorological Organization). The
powerful winds blew down the anemometer, and it is possible that
higher gusts occurred after the instrument failed. Not only is
this the highest wind speed ever measured in a hurricane, it is
the second highest wind gust ever measured at a non-mountain
location on Earth, and is the third highest wind gust ever
measured on the surfa