Beaufort Descriptive Units Units Description on Description at Sea

scale term in in Land

number km/h knots
0 Calm 0 0 Smoke rises vertically Sea like a mirror.
19 10 Wind felt on face; Small wavelets, ripples formed but
1-3 Light winds km/h or knots or leaves rustle; ordinary do not break: A glassy appearance
less less vanes moved by wind. maintained.
Raises dust and loose Small waves - becoming longer;
Moderate 20 - 29 11-16
4 paper; small branches fairly frequent white horses.
winds km/h knots
are moved.
Small trees in leaf Moderate waves, taking a more
30 - 39 17-21 begin to sway; crested pronounced long form; many white
5 Fresh winds
km/h knots wavelets form on horses are formed - a chance of
inland waters some spray
Large branches in Large waves begin to form; the
motion; whistling white foam crests are more
40 - 50 22-27
6 Strong winds heard in telephone extensive with probably some spray
km/h knots
wires; umbrellas used
with difficulty.
Whole trees in motion; Sea heaps up and white foam from
51 - 62 28-33 inconvenience felt breaking waves begins to be blown
7 Near gale
km/h knots when walking against in streaks along direction of wind.
wind.
Twigs break off trees; Moderately high waves of greater
progress generally length; edges of crests begin to
63 - 75 34-40
8 Gale impeded. break into spindrift; foam is blown in
km/h knots
well-marked streaks along the
direction of the wind.
Slight structural High waves; dense streaks of foam;
damage occurs - crests of waves begin to topple,
76 - 87 41-47
9 Strong gale roofing dislodged; tumble and roll over; spray may
km/h knots
larger branches break affect visibility.
off.
Seldom experienced Very high waves with long
inland; trees uprooted; overhanging crests; the resulting
considerable foam in great patches is blown in
88 -
48-55 structural damage. dense white streaks; the surface of
10 Storm 102
knots the sea takes on a white
km/h
appearance; the tumbling of the sea
becomes heavy with visibility
affected.
Very rarely Exceptionally high waves; small
experienced - and medium sized ships
103 - widespread damage occasionally lost from view behind
56-63
11 Violent storm 117 waves; the sea is completely
knots
km/h covered with long white patches of
foam; the edges of wave crests are
blown into froth.
The air is filled with foam and spray.
118 64
Sea completely white with driving
12+ Hurricane km/h or knots or
spray; visibility very seriously
more more
affected