I have lived in a few different places and my favorite is how "relative" the description of wind can be in forecasts. When living on the East Coast, I remember some days with forecasted 15-20 mph winds as being "windy", where as in the Great Plains 30mph winds are called "breezy."

I don't think you should discount stories of severe wind, I certainly have been hit by gusts that nearly stopped me dead in my tracks. Gusts are bad, but the sustained winds are almost worse. It is like climbing a mountain, but there is just never a summit (until you turn around).

If you discount wind, travel to a place in southwest MN (huge wind farm there) near Marshall, MN (corp home of Red Baron, Tony's, and Freschetta pizza and Schwan's Ice Cream) and ride for a week. It is pancake flat sure, but the wind will sap your will to ride.