Wind speed increase with altitude to a certain extent after which the wind speed is constant. The height over which wind speed changes with altitude is called the boundary layer. Gradient wind speeds are measured above the boundary layer. Rough terrain reduce wind speeds. Wind speeds measured in open fields are much higher than those measured in an urban city.
Hurricanes pick up their energy from the ocean and attenuate or slow down on land.
Since hurricanes in the northern hemisphere rotate anti-clockwise, the wind speeds are highest in the northern eastern tip of hurricanes moving westwards as they make landfall. That is because the hurricane's forward speed adds to the rotating wind speeds. Also, the wind in the northern tip is landing on shore coming directly from the ocean unobstructed by any terrain. The point of highest wind speeds is in the southern tip for hurricanes moving eastwards, or those moving westwards as they exit from land to water, or in the southern hemispheres. An example of hurricanes exiting land to water are hurricanes that go through Florida onto to the U.S. Gulf Coast making two landfalls.