Wind loading depends on air density and speed squared. In Mars's thin surface atmosphere, a 60 mph gust exerts roughly the same push as a 6-to-8 mph Earth breeze, while dust remains a serious hazard to power and machinery.
The opening storm in The Martian does exactly what a film storm should. It bends an antenna, hurls debris across the surface and forces a crew to flee. The plot needs the air to move with terrestrial… [+9687 chars]