A method for protecting a wind turbine from anomalous operations, the method comprising: receiving, with a controller of the wind turbine, data indicative of an anomalous operational event of the wind turbine; in response to receiving the data indicative of the anomalous operational event of the wind turbine, initiating, with the controller, an enhanced braking mode for the wind turbine, the enhanced braking mode being characterized by operating a generator of the wind turbine at a torque setpoint that generates a maximum available torque for a given set of operating conditions and which is in excess of a nominal torque limit of the generator; and operating, with the controller, the wind turbine in the enhanced braking mode; wherein the enhanced braking mode comprises a first enhanced braking mode, the method further comprising: determining, with a converter controller of the wind turbine, an actual operating parameter for each of a plurality of electrical system components; determining, with the converter controller, an actual operating limit for each of the electrical system components based on the determined actual operating parameters, the actual operating limit indicating an operating parameter value below which the electrical system components retain a nominal life expectancy, wherein operating the electrical system components below the actual operating limit precludes the tripping of the electrical system components; determining, with the converter controller, an enhanced torque limit for the generator relative to the actual operating limit for each of the electrical system components and at least one mechanical limit of a drivetrain of the wind turbine; and, establishing, with the converter controller, the torque setpoint relative to the enhanced torque limit. receiving, with a controller of the wind turbine, data indicative of an anomalous operational event of the wind turbine; in response to receiving the data indicative of the anomalous operational event of the wind turbine, initiating, with the controller, an enhanced braking mode for the wind turbine, the enhanced braking mode being characterized by operating a generator of the wind turbine at a torque setpoint that generates a maximum available torque for a given set of operating conditions and which is in excess of a nominal torque limit of the generator; and operating, with the controller, the wind turbine in the enhanced braking mode; wherein the enhanced braking mode comprises a first enhanced braking mode, the method further comprising: determining, with a converter controller of the wind turbine, an actual operating parameter for each of a plurality of electrical system components; determining, with the converter controller, an actual operating limit for each of the electrical system components based on the determined actual operating parameters, the actual operating limit indicating an operating parameter value below which the electrical system components retain a nominal life expectancy, wherein operating the electrical system components below the actual operating limit precludes the tripping of the electrical system components; determining, with the converter controller, an enhanced torque limit for the generator relative to the actual operating limit for each of the electrical system components and at least one mechanical limit of a drivetrain of the wind turbine; and, establishing, with the converter controller, the torque setpoint relative to the enhanced torque limit. determining, with a converter controller of the wind turbine, an actual operating parameter for each of a plurality of electrical system components; determining, with the converter controller, an actual operating limit for each of the electrical system components based on the determined actual operating parameters, the actual operating limit indicating an operating parameter value below which the electrical system components retain a nominal life expectancy, wherein operating the electrical system components below the actual operating limit precludes the tripping of the electrical system components; determining, with the converter controller, an enhanced torque limit for the generator relative to the actual operating limit for each of the electrical system components and at least one mechanical limit of a drivetrain of the wind turbine; and, establishing, with the converter controller, the torque setpoint relative to the enhanced torque limit.