I wouldn't discount it just because you haven't heard about it. It's a serious weather station operated by NM Tech University.
I'm skeptical of course because winds that high are very hard to record, especially with an anemometer that has moving parts. Mount Washington uses a device that is similar to how airplanes measure air speed...and it's heated to 300 degrees.
With 100mph gusts in the nearby mountain passes, 150 to 180 mph doesn't seem unreasonable on the summits...with gusts 30% higher. On Mount Washington if there were 100mph winds in the nearby notches then 150mph gusts were not uncommon (so was instrument failure due to icing).
Bill,
as I can see on that Wunderground link with all data from that day, they have a multisensor from VAISALA called WXT510 (see here:
http://www.vaisala.com/instruments/products/weathermultisensor.html). This multisensor has no moving parts and additionally, it has an ultrasonic anemometer. And such US anemometers are usually pretty accurate and are in use very often.
However, there are at least three things that I don't like or don't get it from their observatory:
1. WX510 is definatelly not a sensor that is good for such peaks like Magdalena Ridge Observatory in NM is, atop of 10kft summit. Its measurement range is only up to 60m/s (135mph) and if it goes above those values, then it becomes increasingly non accurate. Also, WXT510 has quite a big problem with heating in such extreme conditons. It usually works okay with normal freezing and ice all around, but not so easy in those extremes up there. While the best sensor for extreme conditions is VAISALA WS425 F/G which has its measurement range up to almost 200mph and is pretty accurate. And it can stand such robust conditions that are expected on such summits. But thats just an example of good sensor, we don't know exactly which they have there.
2. As we can see from the data on Wunderground, immediatelly after that measurement of 220mph all sensors were going out of control and most of them did not return into normal mode. This definatelly shows there was a problem with that sensor. Also, notice the high amount of precipitation; this multisensor is not very successful for rainfall measurements and that high value (200mm+) again shows there has to be something wrong of with the sensor or with the mounting pole (vibrations).
3. Ultrasonic sensor must have very robust and extremely strong mounting poles to withstand all the vibrations (micro vibrations) that are present in strong winds. If the pole is vibrating, then it usually measures very strange values. Its hard to figure out if they're in plus or in minus from the normal value which should be measured. Thats why it has to be very powerful pole.
So based on these concerns, I'd not believe that value is accurate. However, even it says WX510 there, I am not sure they have that sensor.
If any of you already sent an email to them, let us know, otherwise I'll write them some questions as I am quite interested in their measurements there. Especially about the mounting poles, sensor type, heating, etc.
Cheers,
Marko
