A strong wind increases from 270° at 15 knots to 32 knots with gusts to 44 knots and persists for 3 minutes. How is this reported?

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The correct reporting of wind conditions in this situation takes into account the sustained wind speed and the gusting wind speed, alongside the duration of the stronger winds. The sustained wind speed is indicated first, followed by the gusts which are typically noted with a "G" to signify the gusting nature of the wind. In this scenario, the sustained wind has increased to 32 knots with gusts reaching up to 44 knots.

Furthermore, the inclusion of "SQ" is particularly relevant here, which stands for "squall." It is used to denote that winds reached a specified strength for a significant duration—in this case, the gusts persisted for 3 minutes. Thus, the wind report should include both the sustained wind and the gusts along with the indication of squall conditions, resulting in a complete and accurate format.

Therefore, the correct answer reflects the sustained wind speed of 32 knots with gusts up to 44 knots, and appropriately notes that these conditions fall into the squall category, resulting in the report being formatted as 27032G44KT SQ.

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