SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROTECTING WIND TURBINES DURING WIND GUSTS

A system 150 and method 100 for protecting a wind turbine 10 from extreme wind gusts includes monitoring 102,104 a wind speed and a wind direction at the wind turbine 10. The method 100 also includes determining 106 a wind gust threshold, wherein wind speeds and wind directions exceeding the wind gust threshold, respectively, are indicative of an extreme wind gust occurring at the wind turbine 10. In addition, the method 100 includes comparing 108, via a controller 26, the monitored wind speed or a function thereof and the wind direction or function thereof to the wind gust threshold, respectively. Thus, the method 100 includes implementing 112, via the controller 26, a corrective action when the monitored wind speed and the monitored wind direction exceed the wind gust threshold, respectively.