Beaufort Wind Scale

Beaufort Wind Speed

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