- Sorry David,

Dan Rather was Probably just reporting innacurate info...

Possibly making incorrect inferences from wind speeds recorded high up
over open water
and extrapolationg to whatever inland place he was at the time

read info in the links below for clarificatin..

http://clemsonews.clemson.edu/WWW_re...er_Sparks.html

" In the most recent example of Hurricane Georges, the National
Hurricane Center reported maximum sustained winds of 100 mph as it made
landfall.

But Sparks said an analysis of information from data buoys and land
stations by the Hurricane Research Division of the National Oceanic and
Aeronautic Administration put the figure at only 84 mph for ocean
exposures -- which would mean overland speeds would be even lower. "

SNIP

" He added that erroneous reports also went out after Hurricane Bonnie,
with the National Hurricane Center issuing reports that a Category 3
hurricane with sustained winds of 115 mph had swept over Wilmington,
N.C., even as the National Weather Service at Wilmington measured and
reported a maximum of only 56 mph. "

- and if you look at this wind speed. / description / effects scale
you can see that a 50+ MPH wind is probably what he was talking about..
A Non trivial speed..
Ever stood up , unsupported..in a convertible going 55 MPH ??

( They Call Him.... " David Road Rash.." )

http://www.marinewaypoints.com/marine/wind.shtml

Cozumel has very few trees to slow things down and is ~20 feet high at
it's highest..

- So I Hope the forcasts of wind speed ( at the surface) were similarly
exaggerated..

( Still no news.. )