Polycarbonate is the tech name for the popular "Lexan" type products initially developed and sold by General Electric, and it can most certainly withstand a LOT more than an 80-mph wind if (if) it is sized and fastened properly.
Regular plexiglass can shatter. Lexan type polycarbonate is clear and will not shatter, in fact, it is used in bullet proofing, and I have personally tested the product. It is quite amazing to see a perfectly formed mushroom from a .44 mag SJHP held in suspension inside a piece of this product. It comes in just about all thicknesses, and I would not be surprised to hear NASCAR is using it for their windshields. I put some on a corporate skylight over a large atrium back in 1976 face up to the sun, it was the Lexan with the MR 2000 finish (name used at the time for "mar resistant"). It can be bent, drilled, sawn, and heat formed. You can get it in heavier thicknesses too, in the event you want it to make a structural contribution to an assembly.
I searched far and wide for an operable triangular window when we built our house. I wanted one that would open from the top. After not getting anyone's attention on this, I ended up building one myself, using a marine steering gear and cable as the drive mechanism, with a crank handle mounted neatly in the pantry of our kitchen, and Lexan for the glazing. The sheet good will cut like wood, you leave the protective cover on to avoid scratching. Edges will sand smooth, and you can drill the stuff. You could take a 2x4 and throw it as hard as you could at this window and it would bounce off, probably not even leave a mark. You could not get through a 1/4" of this stuff without an electric saw (or chain saw). It is an awesome product.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexan
Regards,
Paul