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Beaufort Wind Speed Scale

BEAUFORT WIND SPEED SCALE



Beaufort
Force
Number


Wind Speed
in:



Term



Indications on
Land and Sea

km/hr
knots
0
calm
calm
Calm
Land: Smoke rises vertically.
Sea: Sea like mirror.
1
2-5
1-3
Light Air
Land: Smoke drifts slowly downwind.
Sea: Ripples with appearance of scales:
no foam crests.
2
6-11
4-6
Light Breeze
Land: Leaves rustle.
Sea: Small wavelets;
crests of glassy appearance, not breaking.
3
12-18
7-10
Gentle Breeze
Land: Leaves are
in motion.
Sea: Large wavelets;
crests begin to break; scattered whitecaps.
4
19-30
11-16
Moderate Breeze
Land: Small branches
on trees move.
Sea: Small waves, becoming longer;
numerous whitecaps.
5
31-39
17-21
Fresh Breeze
Land: Small trees sway. Sea: Moderate waves, taking longer form;
many whitecaps;
some spray.
6
40-50
22-27
Strong Breeze
Land: Large
branches sway.
Sea: Larger waves forming; whitecaps
everywhere; more spray.
7
51-61
28-33
Near Gale
Land: Whole trees
in motion.
Sea: Sea heaps up;
white foam from breaking waves begins to be blown in streaks.
8
62-74
34-40
Gale
Land: Twigs and small branches break off trees.
Sea: Moderately high waves of greater length; edges of crests begin to break into spindrift; foam is blown in well-marked streaks.
9
75-87
41-47
Strong Gale
Land: Large branches break off trees;
slight structural damage.
Sea: High waves; sea begins to roll; dense
streaks of foam; spray may reduce visibility.
10
88-102
48-55
Storm
Land: Trees broken; minor structural damage.
Sea: Very high waves with overhanging crests; sea takes white appearance as foam is blown in very dense streaks; rolling is heavy and visibility is reduced.
11
103-117
56-63
Violent Storm
Land: Widespread damage.
Sea: Exceptionally high waves; sea covered with white foam patches; visibility further reduced.
12
108-132
64-71
Hurricane
Land:Violent movement of trees and much destruction.
Sea: Air filled with foam; sea completely white with driving spray; visibility greatly reduced.
13
133-148
72-80
14
149-165
81-89
15
166-183
90-99
16
184-200
100-108
17
201+
109+

1 knot equals 1.15 statute miles per hour

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Written by
Keith C. Heidorn, PhD, THE WEATHER DOCTOR,
January 1, 1998


Beaufort Wind Speed Scale ©1998, Keith C. Heidorn, PhD. All Rights Reserved.
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