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Wind
conditions...
The ultimate Wind Scale Information!
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Beaufort Scale -
Wind Speeds - Wave Height & Description
|
Wind |
Waves height |
Description -
Speed - Velocity -
Classification |
feet ~ |
metric ~ |
Beaufort
Force |
Knots |
mph |
m/s |
km/h |
probable |
maximum |
probable |
maximum |
Calm |
Wave description:
Mirror
like
No waves. Sea
like a mirror. |
0 |
<
1 |
< 0.5 |
0- 0.2 |
< 1 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Light air |
Wave description:
Rippled
Ripples with the appearance of
scales are formed, but without foam crests. |
1 |
1- 3 |
0.6- 3.4 |
0.3-
1.5 |
1-
5 |
0.3 ft. |
0.3 ft. |
0.1 m. |
0.1 m. |
Light breeze |
Wave description:
Small
wavelets
No waves breaking on
beach. Small wavelets, still short but more pronounced - crests have
a glassy appearance and do not break. |
2 |
4-
6 |
3.5- 7.4 |
1.6-
3.3 |
6- 11 |
0.6 ft. |
1.0 ft. |
0.2 m. |
0.3 m. |
Gentle breeze |
Wave description:
Large Wavelets
Small breaking waves on
beach. Large wavelets. Crests begin to break. Perhaps
scattered white horses. |
3 |
7- 10 |
7.6- 12.0 |
3.4-
5.4 |
12-
19 |
2.0 ft. |
3.2 ft. |
0.6 m. |
1.0 m. |
Moderate breeze |
Wave description:
Small waves
Small waves, becoming
longer, fairly frequent white horses. |
4 |
11- 16 |
12.3- 17.6 |
5.5-
7.9 |
20- 28 |
3.2 ft. |
4.9 ft. |
1.0 m. |
1.5 m. |
Fresh breeze
|
Wave description:
Moderate waves
Moderate waves
taking a more pronounced long form; many white horses are formed.
Waves rock buoys and small
boats.
|
5 |
17- 21 |
17.9- 23.9 |
8.0- 10.7 |
29- 38 |
6.5 ft. |
8.2 ft. |
2.0 m. |
2.5 m. |
Strong breeze |
Wave description:
Large waves
Large waves begin to form; the white foam crests are more
extensive everywhere. Probably some spray. Sea becoming furrowed.
|
6 |
22- 27 |
24.1- 30.8 |
10.8- 13.8 |
39- 49 |
9.8 ft. |
13.1 ft. |
3.0 m. |
4.0 m. |
Near gale |
Wave description:
Large waves
Sea heaps up and white foam from breaking waves begin to be
blown steaks along the direction of the wind. Sea deeply furrowed.
|
7 |
28- 33 |
31.1- 38.2 |
13.9- 17.1 |
50- 61 |
13.1 ft. |
18.0 ft. |
4.0 m. |
5.5 m. |
Gale |
Wave description:
Moderately high waves
Disturbed sea with steep faced rollers. Moderately high waves of greater lengths; edges of crests begin to
break into the spindrift. The foam is blown in well-marked streaks
along in the direction of the wind. |
8 |
34- 40 |
38.4- 46.3 |
17.2- 20.7 |
62- 74 |
19.6 ft. |
24.6 ft. |
6.0 m. |
7.5 m. |
Strong gale |
Wave description:
High waves
High waves. Crests of waves begin to
topple, tumble and roll over. Spray may affect visibility. Dense steaks
of foam along in the direction of the wind. |
9 |
41- 47 |
46.5- 54.6 |
20.8- 24.4 |
75- 88 |
22.9
ft. |
32.8 ft. |
7.0 m. |
10.0 m. |
Storm |
Wave description:
Very high waves
Very high waves, disturbed sea, with
long overhanging crests and steep faced rollers. The resulting foam,
in great patches, is blown in dense white steaks along the direction
of the wind. On the whole, the surface of the sea takes on a white
appearance. Visibility affected. |
10 |
48- 55 |
54.8- 63 |
24.5- 28.4 |
89- 102 |
29.5
ft. |
41.0 ft. |
9.0 m. |
12.5 m. |
Violent storm |
Wave description:
Exceptionally
high waves
Towering seas. Exceptionally high waves, foam
patches cover sea, visibility more reduced. |
11 |
56- 63 |
64- 73 |
28.5- 32.6 |
103- 117 |
37.7 ft. |
52.4 ft. |
11.5 m. |
16 m. |
Hurricane
-
Typhoon - Orkan
|
Wave description:
Exceptionally
high waves
Hurricane seas. Air filled with foam, sea completely white with
driving spray, visibility greatly reduced |
12 |
64- 71 |
74-
82 |
32.7- 36.9 |
118-
132 |
> 46
ft. |
>
52.5 ft. |
14
m. |
> 16
m. |
.
Hurricane |
Beaufort Scale -
Wind Speeds - Wave Height & Description
|
Wind |
Waves height |
Description -
Speed - Velocity -
Classification |
feet ~ |
metric ~ |
Beaufort
Force |
Knots |
mph |
m/s |
km/h |
probable |
maximum |
probable |
maximum |
Hurricane Force 1
-
Typhoon - Orkan
|
Wave description:
Exceptionally
high waves
No
real damage to building structures. Damage primarily to unanchored mobile
homes, shrubbery, and trees. Some damage to poorly constructed signs.
Also, some coastal road flooding and minor pier damage. |
13 |
72- 80 |
83-
92 |
37.0- 41.4 |
133-
149 |
> 46 ft. |
> 52.5 ft. |
> 14
m. |
> 16 m. |
Hurricane Force 2
-
Typhoon - Orkan
|
Wave description:
Exceptionally
high waves
Some
roofing material, door, and window damage of buildings. Considerable
damage to shrubbery and trees with some trees blown down. Considerable
damage to mobile homes, poorly constructed signs, and piers. Coastal and
low-lying escape routes flood 2-4 hours before arrival of the hurricane
center. Small craft in unprotected anchorages break moorings. |
14 |
81- 89 |
93-
103 |
41.5- 46.1 |
150-
165 |
> 46 ft. |
> 52.5 ft. |
> 14
m. |
> 16 m. |
Hurricane Force 3
-
Typhoon - Orkan
|
Wave description:
Exceptionally
high waves
Some
structural damage to small residences and utility buildings with a minor
amount of curtain-wall failures. Damage to shrubbery and trees with
foliage blown off trees and large tress blown down. Mobile homes and
poorly constructed signs are destroyed. Low-lying escape routes are cut by
rising water 3-5 hours before arrival of the hurricane center. Flooding
near the coast destroys smaller structures with larger structures damaged
by battering of floating debris. Terrain continuously lower than 5 ft
above mean sea level may be flooded inland 8 miles (13 km) or more.
Evacuation of low-lying residences with several blocks of the shoreline
may be required. |
15 |
90- 99 |
104-
113 |
46.2- 50.9 |
166-
183 |
> 46 ft. |
> 52.5 ft. |
> 14
m. |
> 16 m. |
Hurricane Force 4
-
Typhoon - Orkan
|
Wave description:
Exceptionally
high waves
More
extensive curtain-wall failures with some complete roof structure failures
on small residences. Shrubs, trees, and all signs are blown down. Complete
destruction of mobile homes. Extensive damage to doors and windows.
Low-lying escape routes may be cut by rising water 3-5 hours before
arrival of the hurricane center. Major damage to lower floors of
structures near the shore. Terrain lower than 10 ft above sea level may be
flooded requiring massive evacuation of residential areas as far inland as
6 miles (10 km). |
16 |
110- 109 |
114-
125 |
51-
56 |
184-
201 |
> 46 ft. |
> 52.5 ft. |
> 14
m. |
> 16 m. |
Hurricane Force 5
-
Typhoon - Orkan
|
Wave description:
Exceptionally
high waves
Complete roof failure on many residences and industrial buildings. Some
complete building failures with small utility buildings blown over or
away. All shrubs, trees, and signs blown down. Complete destruction of
mobile homes. Severe and extensive window and door damage. Low-lying
escape routes are cut by rising water 3-5 hours before arrival of the
hurricane center. Major damage to lower floors of all structures located
less than 15 ft above sea level and within 500 yards of the shoreline.
Massive evacuation of residential areas on low ground within 5-10 miles
(8-16 km) of the shoreline may be required. |
17 |
109- 118 |
125-
137 |
56.1- 61.2 |
202-
220 |
> 46 ft. |
> 52.5 ft. |
> 14
m. |
> 16 m. |
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