How can hurricane Gustav with sustained winds of 140 MPH only be moving at a rate of 15 MPH?

Question

How can hurricane Gustav with sustained winds of 140 MPH only be moving at a rate of 15 MPH?

Answer 1

check out the hurricane gustav blog at www.hurricane-gustov.com

Answer 2

It is moving at 15mph to the west north-west (that means the eye wall is moving in that direction) but the speed at which the hurricane rotates reaches 140mph. I hope that helps.

Answer 3

The winds *inside* the hurricane, rotating around the eye, are the sustained winds that are 140 mph. This means that while the storm is affecting a certain area, 140mph winds will be experienced for that particular area around and near the storm's eye. The forward progress of the whole rotating mess is at 15mph.

Think of a huge tornado. You can see it coming slowly toward you, but you KNOW the winds in the tornado are killer winds. Same basic concept with hurricanes.