Glad to see other people have the same ideas as me Clark, especially you being an metorologist. Anyway, I wouldn't be comparing the 1993 storm of the century with Nicole, one is a maritime system and the other is an surface-cyclone, two different things. With the trough deepening and the enviorment becoming increasing favorable, I wouldn't be surprised to see a storm in the 970's. The main wind will not be from the system per se but from the pressure gradient between the strong canadian high and Nicole, could easily see a gust up to 80 in Maine, here in Long Island winds are about 25 mph, but then again it's always windy here. It seems almost everywhere on the east coast is being effecting by these tropical cyclones.