This was in my local NWS forecast office (LWX / Sterling VA) forecast discussion:

ONE...HIGH WINDS WILL BE A BIG ISSUE...WITH SUSTAINED WINDS RANGING
FROM 30 TO AS HIGH AS 45 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 60 MPH. SEE GRIDDED
FORECAST FOR DETAILS. OF COURSE...JUST WHERE WINDS WILL CRASH
DOWN WILL BE DEPENDENT ON SANDY/S TRACK AND HOW THE TRANSITION TO
AN EXTRATROPICAL STORM OCCURS. ALSO...WITH FORECAST 850 HPA 80-110
KT WINDS ADVERTIZED IN THE MODELS...HOW MUCH/WHEN THESE WINDS MIX
DOWN IS DIFFICULT TO PIN DOWN. THESE WINDS ARE JUST AMAZING IN
TERMS OF THEIR HIGH SPEED. I CANNOT RECALL EVER SEEING MODEL
FORECASTS OF SUCH AN EXPANSIVE AREAL WIND FIELD WITH VALUES SO
HIGH FOR SO LONG A TIME. WE ARE BREAKING NEW GROUND HERE.

Ref: http://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?...p;highlight=off

(Emphasis added)