<P> Rossby waves are strong winds in the upper troposphere . These operate on a global scale and move from West to East (hence being known as Westerlies). The Rossby waves are themselves a different wind speed from what we experience in the lower troposphere . </P> <P> Local weather conditions play a key role in influencing wind speed, as the formation of hurricanes, monsoons and cyclones as freak weather conditions can drastically affect the flow velocity of the wind . </P> <P> The fastest wind speed not related to tornadoes ever recorded was during the passage of Tropical Cyclone Olivia on 10 April 1996: an automatic weather station on Barrow Island, Australia, registered a maximum wind gust of 408 km / h (220 kn; 253 mph; 113 m / s). The wind gust was evaluated by the WMO Evaluation Panel who found that the anemometer was mechanically sound and the gust was within statistical probability and ratified the measurement in 2010 . The anemometer was mounted 10 m above ground level (and thus 64 m above sea level). During the cyclone, several extreme gusts of greater than 300 km / h (160 kn; 83 m / s) were recorded, with a maximum 5 - minute mean speed of 176 km / h (95 kn; 110 mph; 49 m / s), the extreme gust factor was in the order of 2.27--2.75 times the mean wind speed . The pattern and scales of the gusts suggest that a mesovortex was embedded in the already strong eyewall of the cyclone . </P> <P> The now second highest surface wind speed ever officially recorded is 372 km / h (231 mph; 103 m / s) at the Mount Washington (New Hampshire) Observatory: 6,288 ft (1917 m) above sea level in the US on 12 April 1934, using a heated anemometer . The anemometer, specifically designed for use on Mount Washington was later tested by the US National Weather Bureau and confirmed to be accurate . </P>

Where was the worlds strongest gust of wind recorded