Here is some info if you wants the scientific number.

Even though Hurricane Sandy's eye passed well south of Long Island, the strongest winds were displaced into the area. Coastal Connecticut had numerous wind gusts over 70 mph and there was at least one confirmed gust over 90 mph on Long Island, at Islip. (A 96 mph gust was reported at Eatons Neck, but the observation was recorded at 71 feet above the ground. I estimated a wind gust to 75 mph in the Long Wharf section of New Haven.)

 

強熱帶風暴：10－11級（24.5－32.6米每秒）
台風：12－13級（32.7－41.4米每秒）

Here is some conversion

32.6m/s = 117.6 km/h (center of 11 Ji TaiFeng)

70mph = 112 km/h  (in USA, even not the center of the storm)