State of the Art Volume Estimation of Extreme Wind Speeds

Extreme wind loads used in design (e.g., the 50-yr wind load) and include nominal design wind loads ultimate wind loads. This paper briefly reviews the relationship between extreme wind loads and extreme wind speeds, assessments of epochal versus ‘peak-overthreshold’ approaches for estimating extreme non-tornadic winds in areas not subjected to tropical storms, and methods for estimating extremes from short records. Also reviewed are wind direction effects, and the estimation of extreme winds due to tropical cyclones (hurricanes) and tornadoes. We point out uncertainties due to mo,del shortcomings and insufficient data, safety concerns due to current inconsistent uses of reliability concepts, and the implications of these concerns for code writing.