| 0 | Calm | 0-1 | 0-1 | 0-1 | - | - | Still - calm air - smoke will rise vertically. | Water is mirror like. |
| 1 | Light Air | 1-3 | 1-5 | 1-3 | 1-4 | 0.1 | Rising smoke drifts - wind vane is inactive. | Small ripples appear on water surface. |
| 2 | Light Breeze | 4-7 | 6-11 | 4-6 | 1-2 | 0.2 | Leaves rustle - can feel wind on your face - wind vanes begin to move. | Small wavelets develop - crests are glassy. |
| 3 | Gentle Breeze | 8-12 | 12-19 | 7-10 | 2 | 0.6 | Leaves and small twigs move - light weight flags extend. | Large wavelets - crests start to break - some white horses. |
| 4 | Moderate Breeze | 13-18 | 20-28 | 11-16 | 3 1/2 | 1 | Small branches move - raises dust - leaves and paper. | Small waves develop - becoming longer - frequent white horses. |
| 5 | Fresh Breeze | 19-24 | 29-38 | 17-21 | 6 | 2 | Small trees sway. | White crested wavelets form - some spray. |
| 6 | Strong Breeze | 25-31 | 39-49 | 22-27 | 9 1/2 | 3 | "Large tree branches move - telephone wires begin to ""whistle"" - umbrellas used with difficulty." | Larger waves form - white horses prevalent - spray. |
| 7 | Moderate or Near Gale | 32-38 | 50-61 | 28-33 | 13 1/2 | 4 | Large trees sway - becoming difficult to walk. | Larger waves develop - white foam from breaking waves begins to be blown. |
| 8 | Gale or Fresh Gale | 39-46 | 62-74 | 34-40 | 18 | 6 | Twigs and small branches are broken from trees - walking is difficult. | Moderately large waves with blown foam. |
| 9 | Strong Gale | 47-54 | 75-88 | 41-47 | 23 | 7 | Slight damage occurs to buildings - shingles are blown off of roofs. | High waves - rolling seas - dense foam - blowing spray reduces visibility. |
| 10 | Whole Gale or Storm | 55-63 | 89-102 | 48-55 | 29 | 9 | Trees are broken or uprooted - building damage is considerable. | Large waves - overhanging crests - sea becomes white with foam - heavy rolling - reduced visibility. |
| 11 | Violent Storm | 64-72 | 103-117 | 56-63 | 37 | 11.5 | Extensive widespread damage. | Large waves - white foam - visibility further reduced. |
| 12 | Hurricane | 73+ | 118+ | 64+ | 46+ | 14+ | Extreme destruction - devastation. | Large waves - air filled with foam - sea white with foam and driving spray - little visibility. |
