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Beaufort Scale (Wind Speed) |
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Used for centuries sailors used sea conditions to work out wind speed. In 1805, Sir Francis Beaufort, a rear admiral in the British Navy, made a scale for this. Since then it has been called the ‘Beaufort Scale’. It tells us what to expect conditions on land and sea to be at certain wind speeds. Knowing this is helpful as weather is often forecasted using this scale all around the world.
The Beaufort Scale:
|
Force
|
Name |
MPH
|
Effect At Sea |
Effect On Land |
|
0
|
Calm |
0
|
Calm or glassy, easy paddling |
Smoke rises vertically |
|
1
|
Light Air |
1-3
|
Scale-like ripples, easy paddling |
Smoke drifts |
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2
|
Light Breeze |
4-7
|
Small wavelets, requires extra paddling |
Leaves rustle, wind can be felt on face |
|
3
|
Gentle Breeze |
8-12
|
Scattered whitecaps, nuisance for beginning paddlers |
Leaves in constant motion, light flags extend |
|
4
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Moderate Breeze |
13-18
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Small waves, numerous whitecaps, very difficult for beginning paddlers |
Small branches move, dust and leaves are lifted into air |
|
5
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Fresh Breeze |
19-24
|
Moderate waves, many whitecaps, very difficult for intermediate paddlers |
Small trees move |
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6
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Strong Breeze |
25-31
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Larger waves, whitecaps everywhere, spray, difficult for advanced paddlers |
Large tree branches move, hard to set up tent |
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7
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Moderate Gale |
32-38
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White foam develops streaks, spray in the air |
Resistance in walking, tents can blow away, whole trees move |
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8
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Fresh Gale |
39-46
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Moderate high waves, well marked foam streaks |
Twigs and small branches break off trees, walking is very difficult |
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9
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Strong Gale |
47-54
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High waves, sea rolls, spray may reduce visibility |
Slight structural damage to buildings |
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10
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Whole Gale |
55-63
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Very high waves with overhanging crests, sea churns white |
Trees are uprooted, moderate structural damage to buildings |
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11
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Storm |
64-73
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Extremely high waves, chaotic sea, large vessels may disappear in wave troughs |
Widespread damage |
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12
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Hurricane |
74 and above
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Low visibility, air filled with foam and spray, sea completely white |
Violent destruction |
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