Nicole: National Weather Service's wind report sparks debate on Facebook – Florida Today

A mini-Facebook war erupted during the last few days over a post by the National Weather Service in Melbourne, detailing preliminary maximum wind speeds from Hurricane Nicole.Meteorologists at the National Weather Service said the highest wind gust reported from the storm in Brevard County was 75 mph at 5:38 a.m. Thursday in Port St. John. Other high readings that morning were 73 mph near the Haulover Canal on Merritt Island and 72 mph in Melbourne.But the Facebook post sharing the data for Brevard and nine other counties covered by the Melbourne office generated considerable feedback from members of the public. That included people questioning the accuracy of the data. They contended that wind speeds were much higher than reported, with some citing a 100-mph gust at Kennedy Space Center.Storm impacts: Hurricane Nicole knocked out power, toppled signs, flooded docks across Space CoastBoater rescue: Brevard deputies rescue stranded boater as Nicole whipped up the lagoonWill Ulrich, National Weather Service warning coordination meteorologist in Melbourne, said his agency stands by its data. Meteorologists noted on Facebook that “the numbers are preliminary, and only reflect data from sites with reliable wind measuring equipment. Peak winds and gusts will vary depending on location, instrument siting, etc.”Ulrich noted that there are
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