Highest reproted winds are not even huricane strenght? What gives the storms strong side is right on the coast? We should be getting reports of 110 and higher.
I'm sure they are getting winds higher than is reported. It's tough to get reports out in these conditions, and instruments tend to break in high winds.
Usually what is reported are sustained winds. You can bet that if sustained winds are in the 80s that tehy are getting some gusts over 100. The NE part of the storm is usually the strongest. That part of the storm is not in contact with the coast now.