Sea Buoys...weather conditions

[(Nobody You Know)]

Why is it, on the advent of one of the worst storms we have seen all up and down the east coast, I can't find ONE - not one solitary - weather buoy on the east coast of America showing winds in excess of 55 Kts?
Just trying to understand what they are there for.
Capt'n Bill

[GJH]

You're not looking hard enough,

http://www.wunderground.com/MAR/buoy/41036.html

or use this map to find others:

http://www.wunderground.com/MAR/AM/158.html

Notice the trend, and they are not out where the storm is at this time.

[Vincentc]

Bill,
Perhaps Irene is not that bad
Also the buoy windspeed is taken at a lower elevation, ie 15' for Frying Pan Shoal. High Waves will shield the anenometer however gust speed should account for that. The wind speed reported by the weather services is is measured a higher elevation. Height matters. So does which side of the eye.
The eye passed within 20 miles of the FPS buoy, although the buoy was on the west side of the eye. see spreadsheet.

I hope my suspeicions regarding the strength of this storm are correct.