Article on Wilma's winds:

[Zackiedawg]

The anemometer is supposed to withstand winds up to 175 mph but that goes only for the sensor head and not the attachment to the structure which obviously was not able to withstand winds that strong.

Yep...that's what I discovered! I thought I had it anchored pretty well...it made it through Frances which bolstered my confidence in the mount. It was screwed into the cement wall in front of my house with expanders, but the higher winds of Wilma took care of that, pulling the screws out of the wall and then tossing and rolling the unit through the side yard and into the backyard. Maybe I need to get a small mastpole to mount it on next time.

[ericinmia]

I welded some pipe together to form a mast ontop of my chimney... about ~35 feet off the ground. Had it anchored with tapcons and power actuated fastners (.22 cal rounds that fire nails into concrete)

Between the two... it took winds over 80mph without even loosening.... i recommend that as an option.

Although i am planning on designing something taller and stronger for next year. I want it another 10 feet or so up... to get out of possible turbulent air currents.
-Eric

[Zackiedawg]

I do have a chimney I could mount a mast on...however it is at the other end of the house from where I keep the station. The anemometer is wireless, but I would have to check if it would be able to transmit to the station on the other side of the house, and through the roof and walls. It would certainly be a better location, since where I had it mounted was definately less accurate reading from the south or southeast due to interference from trees and houses. I guess I'll be looking into a chimney mast.