National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Severe Thunderstorms from Texas to the Central Gulf Coast; Heavy Rainfall in Central Texas on Thursday

Severe thunderstorms will continue tonight from Texas to the Central Gulf Coast, with scattered damaging winds and large hail as the main threats. Heavy to excessive rainfall is expected over portions of central Texas Thursday, shifting into eastern Texas into the central Gulf Coast on Friday. Read More >

You can estimate peak wind speeds OR describe what damage you observed.
Most people OVERESTIMATE peak wind speeds, especially if experience level is low.

 

 Wind Speed (mph)  Description  
Calm - 2 Smoke rises vertically; trees do not move
3 - 6 Wind motion visible; felt on skin
7 - 10 Leaves / flags in constant motion
11 -15 Wind heard; Leaves rustle
15 - 20 Dust is raised; Small branches move
20 - 25 Small trees sway; Flags in full motion
26 - 32 Large branches move; Whistling heard in wind
33 - 40 Whole trees move; Difficult to walk
41 - 49 Twigs break; Leaf loss; Cars can veer off road
50 - 57 Small branches break; Leaf litter in streets;
Minor roof and sign damage possible
** START OF SEVERE CRITERIA **
58 - 65 Tree damage or large branches break;
Light structural damage
66 - 73 Tree and structural damage;
Crop damage possible
74+ Widespread tree, crop, and
structural damage

YouTube Video of Beaufort Wind Scale - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAMhpyxP3S0