> From the WeatherWatch archives
We often get posts about wind. Sometimes about strength and direction and sometimes about the impact on land and on the water.
The Beaufort Wind scale table is below
|
Beaufort Wind Scale
|
|||||
| Force |
Wind Speed
|
Description | Effects Land / Sea | ||
| mph | km/hr | knots | |||
| 0 | <1 | <1 | <1 | Calm | Still, calm air, smoke will rise vertically. Water is mirror-like. |
| 1 | 1-3 mph |
1-5 kph |
1-3 knots |
Light Air | Rising smoke drifts, wind vane is inactive. Small ripples appear on water surface. |
| 2 | 4-7 mph |
6-11 kph |
4-6 knots |
Light Breeze | Leaves rustle, can feel wind on your face, wind vanes begin to move. Small wavelets develop, crests are glassy. |
| 3 | 8-12 mph |
12-19 kph |
7-10 knots |
Gentle Breeze | Leaves and small twigs move, light weight flags extend. Large wavelets, crests start to break, some whitecaps. |
| 4 | 13-18 mph |
20-28 kph |
11-16 knots |
Moderate Breeze | Small branches move, raises dust, leaves and paper. Small waves develop, becoming longer, whitecaps. |
| 5 | 19-24 mph |
29-38 kph |
17-21 knots |
Fresh Breeze | Small trees sway. White crested wavelets (whitecaps) form, some spray. |
| 6 | 25-31 mph |
39-49 kph |
22-27 knots |
Strong Breeze | Large tree branches move, telephone wires begin to “whistle”, umbrellas are difficult to keep under control. Larger waves form, whitecaps prevalent, spray. |
| 7 | 32-38 mph |
50-61 kph |
28-33 knots |
Moderate or Near Gale |
Large trees sway, becoming difficult to walk. Larger waves develop, white foam from breaking waves begins to be blown.
|
| 8 | 39-46 mph |
62-74 kph |
34-40 knots |
Gale or Fresh Gale | Twigs and small branches are broken from trees, walking is difficult. Moderately large waves with blown foam. |
| 9 | 47-54 mph |
75-88 kph |
41-47 knots |
Strong Gale | Slight damage occurs to buildings, shingles are blown off of roofs. High waves (6 metres), rolling seas, dense foam, Blowing spray reduces visibility. |
| 10 | 55-63 mph |
89-102 kph |
48-55 knots |
Whole Gale or Storm | Trees are broken or uprooted, building damage is considerable. Large waves (6-9 metres), overhanging crests, sea becomes white with foam, heavy rolling, reduced visibility. |
| 11 | 64-72 mph |
103-117 kph |
56-63 knots |
Violent Storm | Extensive widespread damage. Large waves (9-14 metres), white foam, visibility further reduced. |
| 12 | 73+ mph |
118+ kph |
64+ knots |
Hurricane | Extreme destruction, devastation. Large waves over 14 metres, air filled with foam, sea white with foam and driving spray, little visibility. |
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Before you add a new comment, take note this story was published on 10 Sep 2009.
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