Weather Conditions

Contents

Beaufont Scale

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Beaufort Scale

Force

Miles

per

hour

Km

per

hour

Knots per

hour

Probable

wave height

feet

Probable

wave height

m

Description

Effects

on

land

Effects

on

sea

0 0-1 0-1 0-1 - -

Calm

Still, calm air, smoke will rise vertically.

Water is mirror-like.

1 1-3 1-5 1-3 1/4 0.1 Light Air

Rising smoke drifts, wind vane is inactive.

Small ripples appear on water surface.

2 4-7 6-11 4-6 1/2 0.2 Light Breeze Leaves rustle, can feel wind on your face, wind vanes begin to move. Small wavelets develop, crests are glassy.

3 8-12 12-19 7-10 2 0.6 Gentle Breeze Leaves and small twigs move, light weight flags extend. Large wavelets, crests start to break, some white horses.

4 13-18 20-28 11-16 3 1/2 1.0 Moderate Breeze Small branches move, raises dust, leaves and paper. Small waves develop, becoming longer, frequent white horses.

5 19-24 29-38 17-21 6 2.0 Fresh Breeze Small trees sway. White crested wavelets form, some spray.

6 25-31 39-49 22-27 9 1/2 3.0 Strong Breeze Large tree branches move, telephone wires begin to "whistle", umbrellas used with difficulty. Larger waves form, white horses prevalent, spray.

7 32-38 50-61 28-33 13 1/2 4.0 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 62-74 34-40 18 6.0 Gale or Fresh Gale Twigs and small branches are broken from trees, walking is difficult. Moderately large waves with blown foam.

9 47-54 75-88 41-47 23 7.0 Strong Gale Slight damage occurs to buildings, shingles are blown off of roofs. High waves, rolling seas, dense foam, Blowing spray reduces visibility.

10 55-63 89-102 48-55 29 9.0 Whole Gale or Storm Trees are broken or uprooted, building damage is considerable. Large waves, overhanging crests, sea becomes white with foam, heavy rolling, reduced visibility.

11 64-72 103-117 56-63 37 11.5 Violent Storm Extensive widespread damage. Large waves, white foam, visibility further reduced.

12 73+ 118+ 64+ - 14.0 Hurricane Extreme destruction, devastation. Large waves, air filled with foam, sea white with foam and driving spray, little visibility.

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Note

Imminent, means expected in the next 6 hours

Soon, means expected in the next 6 to 12 hours

Later, means expected in the next 12 to 24 hours

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Beaufort Scale
Force	Miles per hour	Km per hour	Knots per hour	Probable wave height feet	Probable wave height m	Description	Effects on land	Effects on sea
0	0-1	0-1	0-1	-	-	Calm	Still, calm air, smoke will rise vertically.	Water is mirror-like.
1	1-3	1-5	1-3	1/4	0.1	Light Air	Rising smoke drifts, wind vane is inactive.	Small ripples appear on water surface.
2	4-7	6-11	4-6	1/2	0.2	Light Breeze	Leaves rustle, can feel wind on your face, wind vanes begin to move.	Small wavelets develop, crests are glassy.
3	8-12	12-19	7-10	2	0.6	Gentle Breeze	Leaves and small twigs move, light weight flags extend.	Large wavelets, crests start to break, some white horses.
4	13-18	20-28	11-16	3 1/2	1.0	Moderate Breeze	Small branches move, raises dust, leaves and paper.	Small waves develop, becoming longer, frequent white horses.
5	19-24	29-38	17-21	6	2.0	Fresh Breeze	Small trees sway.	White crested wavelets form, some spray.
6	25-31	39-49	22-27	9 1/2	3.0	Strong Breeze	Large tree branches move, telephone wires begin to "whistle", umbrellas used with difficulty.	Larger waves form, white horses prevalent, spray.
7	32-38	50-61	28-33	13 1/2	4.0	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	62-74	34-40	18	6.0	Gale or Fresh Gale	Twigs and small branches are broken from trees, walking is difficult.	Moderately large waves with blown foam.
9	47-54	75-88	41-47	23	7.0	Strong Gale	Slight damage occurs to buildings, shingles are blown off of roofs.	High waves, rolling seas, dense foam, Blowing spray reduces visibility.
10	55-63	89-102	48-55	29	9.0	Whole Gale or Storm	Trees are broken or uprooted, building damage is considerable.	Large waves, overhanging crests, sea becomes white with foam, heavy rolling, reduced visibility.
11	64-72	103-117	56-63	37	11.5	Violent Storm	Extensive widespread damage.	Large waves, white foam, visibility further reduced.
12	73+	118+	64+	-	14.0	Hurricane	Extreme destruction, devastation.	Large waves, air filled with foam, sea white with foam and driving spray, little visibility.