jth - sorta yes, sorta no. The degrees part is fine; it's the second number, the minutes, that you have to 'decode.' But, it's simple - just divide the number by 60 and you have your decimal degrees. That, 16 degrees 11 minutes (as an example) would be 16.18 degrees.

Colleen - that 76kt wind was at flight level, which I believe was 850mb. There's an additional reduction to the surface from that height which varies by storm (and some storms can even have stronger winds at the surface, though this isn't as common). The recon flight, in the D group, estimated surface winds to be about 55kt - roughly 65mph - though they haven't reached the NE side yet I don't believe.

Working on an explanation for some of what's going on with Bonnie, hope to have that in a little while.