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
Learn More From These Relevant Books Chosen by The Weather Doctor
For More Weather Doctor articles, go to our Site Map.
I have recently added many of my lifetime collection of photographs and art works to an on-line shop where you can purchase notecards, posters, and greeting cards, etc. of my best images.