Beaufort scale - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaufort_scale

Today, hurricane force winds are sometimes described as Beaufort scale 12 through 16, very roughly related to the respective category speeds of the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, by which actual hurricanes are measured, where Category 1 is equivalent to Beaufort 12. However, the extended Beaufort numbers above 13 do not match the Saffir-Simpson Scale. Category 1 tornadoes on the Fujita and TORRO scales also begin roughly at the end of level 12 of the Beaufort scale but are indeed independent scales. Note that wave heights in the scale are for conditions in the open ocean, not along the shore.

The modern scale

Beaufort Description Wind speed number < 1 km/h < 1 mph < 1 kn < 0.3 m/s 1.15.5 km/h Wave height 0m Flat. 0 ft Calm. Smoke rises vertically. Sea conditions Land conditions Sea state photo

Calm

Light air

13 mph 12 kn 0.31.5 m/s 5.611 km/h

00.2 m

01 ft

Ripples without crests.

Smoke drift indicates wind direction, still wind vanes.

Light breeze

47 mph 36 kn 1.63.4 m/s 1219 km/h

Small 0.20.5 wavelets. m Wind felt on exposed Crests of skin. Leaves rustle, glassy vanes begin to move. appearance, 12 ft not breaking Large 0.51 m wavelets. Leaves and small twigs Crests begin constantly moving, to break; light flags extended. 23.5 ft scattered whitecaps 12 m Small waves with Dust and loose paper breaking raised. Small branches crests. Fairly begin to move. 3.56 ft frequent whitecaps. Moderate waves of some length. Branches of a moderate Many size move. Small trees whitecaps. in leaf begin to sway. Small amounts of spray.

Gentle breeze

812 mph 710 kn 3.45.4 m/s 2028 km/h

Moderate breeze

1317 mph 1115 kn 5.57.9 m/s 2938 km/h

23 m

Fresh breeze

1824 mph 1620 kn 69 ft 8.010.7 m/s

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Beaufort scale - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaufort_scale

3949 km/h 34 m 2530 mph 2126 kn 913 ft 10.813.8 m/s

Strong breeze

Long waves begin to form. White foam crests are very frequent. Some airborne spray is present.

Large branches in motion. Whistling heard in overhead wires. Umbrella use becomes difficult. Empty plastic garbage cans tip over.

5061 km/h

High wind, Moderate gale, Near gale

Sea heaps up. Some foam from 45.5 m breaking waves is 3138 mph blown into Whole trees in motion. streaks along Effort needed to walk wind against the wind. 2733 kn direction. 1319 ft Moderate amounts of airborne 13.917.1 m/s spray.

Gale, Fresh gale

Moderately high waves 6274 km/h with 5.57.5 breaking m crests forming 3946 mph spindrift. Well-marked streaks of foam are 3440 kn blown along wind 1825 ft direction. Considerable 17.220.7 m/s airborne spray. High waves whose crests 7588 km/h sometimes 710 m roll over. Dense foam is blown 4754 mph along wind direction. Large 4147 kn amounts of airborne 2332 ft spray may 20.824.4 m/s begin to reduce

Some twigs broken from trees. Cars veer on road. Progress on foot is seriously impeded.

Strong gale

Some branches break off trees, and some small trees blow over. Construction/temporary signs and barricades blow over.

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Beaufort scale - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaufort_scale

visibility. Very high waves with 89102 km/h overhanging crests. Large 912.5 patches of m foam from wave crests 5563 mph give the sea a white appearance. Considerable tumbling of waves with 4855 kn heavy impact. 2941 ft Large amounts of airborne 24.528.4 m/s spray reduce visibility. Exceptionally high waves. 103117 km/h Very large 11.516 patches of m foam, driven before the 6472 mph wind, cover much of the sea surface. Very large 5663 kn amounts of airborne 3752 ft spray severely 28.532.6 m/s reduce visibility. 118 km/h Huge waves. Sea is completely 14 m white with foam and spray. Air is filled with driving spray, 46 ft greatly reducing visibility.

10

Storm,[6] Whole gale

Trees are broken off or uprooted, saplings bent and deformed. Poorly attached asphalt shingles and shingles in poor condition peel off roofs.

11

Violent storm

Widespread damage to vegetation. Many roofing surfaces are damaged; asphalt tiles that have curled up and/or fractured due to age may break away completely.

73 mph

12

Hurricane[6] force 64 kn

Very widespread damage to vegetation. Some windows may break; mobile homes and poorly constructed sheds and barns are damaged. Debris may be hurled about.

32.7 m/s

The scale is used in the Shipping Forecasts broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in the United Kingdom. This scale is also widely used in Greece, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau, however with some

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