Beaufort

Scale
OBJECTIVES

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Introduction of Why do we use How to read the Beaufort
Beaufort Scale Beaufort Scale Scale chart
 Beaufort Scale
The Beaufort wild scale relates wind speed to observed
conditions at sea or on land. In other words, wind speed
and strength are not measured by specific instruments, but
by human visual observation. The scale was used before
the advent of modern wind instruments.

One of the first scales to estimate wind speeds and the effects was
created by Britain's Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort (1774-1857). He
developed the scale in 1805 to help sailors estimate the winds via visual
observations. The scale starts with 0 and goes to a force of 12. The
Beaufort scale goes all the way to 17, but the last five numbers only
apply to tropical typhoons.
 The Beaufort wind scale is a system used to
estimate and report wind speeds when no
measuring apparatus is available.
Why do we use
Purpose and Application. In the age of sail, the
Beaufort Scale? Beaufort Wind Scale provided critical information
for sailors to handle their ships appropriately,
adjusting sails to various wind conditions. The
scale has proven vital for weather forecasting.
If you have exact data about wind
speed, you can connect it with the
Beaufort scale number using the
following chart, where you see Beaufort
number from 0 to 12 and wind
description in the beginning, then —
water and land conditions.

0 — calm
Wind speed: < 0.5 m/s (< 1 mph).
Wave height: 0 m (0 ft).
Sea: water surface is smooth,
looks like a mirror.
Land: no wind, smoke rises
vertically.
Beaufort
Numbers
1 — light air
Wind speed: 0.5–1.5 m/s (1–3 mph).
Wave height: 0–0.3 m (0–1 ft).
Sea: scaly ripples on the water, no foam crests.
Land: you can define the direction of the
smoke, but it is shown by its drift, not wind
vanes.
2 — light breeze
Wind speed: 1.6–3.3 m/s (4–7 mph).
Wave height: 0.3–0.6 m (1–2 ft).
Sea: small wavelets, glassy crests don’t
break.
Land: you can feel the wind on skin,
leaves on the trees rustle.

3 — gentle breeze
Wind speed: 3.4–5.5 m/s (8–12 mph).
Wave height: 0.6–1.2 m (2–4 ft).
Sea: large wavelets, crests start to break,
scattered white horses may be seen.
Land: leaves constantly move, flag waves.
Beaufort
Numbers
4 — moderate breeze
Wind speed: 5.5–7.9 m/s (13–18 mph).
Wave height: 1–2 m (3.5–6 ft).
Sea: small waves becoming longer,
numerous whitecaps.
Land: paper and leaves are scattered.
5 — fresh breeze
Wind speed: 8–10.7 m/s (19–24 mph).
Wave height: 2–3 m (6–10 ft).
Sea: moderate waves taking longer form,
many whitecaps, some spray.
Land: small trees sway, whitecaps form on
waves.

6 — strong breeze
Wind speed: 10.8–13.8 m/s (25–31
mph).
Wave height: 3–4 m (9–13 ft).
Sea: larger waves, whitecaps common,
more spray.
Land: Umbrellas are hard to use, large
branches on trees move.
Beaufort
Numbers
7 — high wind, moderate gale, near gale
Wind speed: 13.9–17.1 m/s (32–38 mph).
Wave height: 4–5.5 m (13–19 ft).
Sea: sea heaps up, large waves, white foam
streaks off breakers.
Land: Trees sway, walking in the wind is
difficult.
8 — gale, fresh gale
Wind speed: 17.2–20.7 m/s (39–46 mph).
Wave height: 5.5–7.5 m (18–25 ft).
Sea: moderately high waves, edges of crests
begin to break into spindrift.
Land: Twigs and branches break off of trees.

9 — strong / severe gale
Wind speed: 20.8–24.4 m/s (47–54
mph).
Wave height: 7–10 m (23–32 ft).
Sea: high waves, crests roll over. Foam
is blown along the wind direction. Large
amounts of spray may reduce visibility.
Land: roof tiles blow off buildings.
Beaufort
Numbers
10 — storm whole gale
Wind speed: 24.5–28.4 m/s (55–63 mph).
Wave height: 9–12.5 m (29–41 ft).
Sea: very high waves with overhanging
crests. White appearance in the sea. Large
amounts of airborne spray.
Land: trees are uprooted.
11 — violent storm
Wind speed: 28.5–32.6 m/s (64–72 mph).
Wave height: 11.5–16 m (37–52 ft).
Sea: exceptionally high waves that can hide
small and medium ships to view. Water
covered with long white patches of foam.
Land: widespread damage to vegetation and
buildings, nearly no visibility at sea.
 12 — hurricane force
Wind speed: ≥ 32.7 m/s (≥ 73 mph).
Wave height: ≥ 14 m (≥ 46 ft).
Sea: completely white with driving
spray; visibility very seriously
affected.
Land: widespread destruction.
Thank you
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