[ Also, see estimating wind speed and sea states while at sea ]
| Beaufort number | Description | Speed | Visual Clues and Damage Effects |
|---|---|---|---|
0 |
Calm | Calm | Calm wind. Smoke rises vertically with little if any drift. |
1 |
Light Air | 1 to 3 mph | Direction of wind shown by smoke drift, not by wind vanes. Little if any movement with flags. Wind barely moves tree leaves. |
2 |
Light Breeze | 4 to 7 mph | Wind felt on face. Leaves rustle and small twigs move. Ordinary wind vanes move. |
3 |
Gentle Breeze | 8 to 12 mph | Leaves and small twigs in constant motion. Wind blows up dry leaves from the ground. Flags are extended out. |
4 |
Moderate Breeze | 13 to 18 mph | Wind moves small branches. Wind raises dust and loose paper from the ground and drives them along. |
5 |
Fresh Breeze | 19 to 24 mph | Large branches and small trees in leaf begin to sway. Crested wavelets form on inland lakes and large rivers. |
6 |
Strong Breeze | 25 to 31 mph | Large branches in continuous motion. Whistling sounds heard in overhead or nearby power and telephone lines. Umbrellas used with difficulty. |
7 |
Near Gale | 32 to 38 mph | Whole trees in motion. Inconvenience felt when walking against the wind. |
8 |
Gale | 39 to 46 mph | Wind breaks twigs and small branches. Wind generally impedes walking. |
9 |
Strong Gale | 47 to 54 mph | Structural damage occurs, such as chimney covers, roofing tiles blown off, and television antennas damaged. Ground is littered with many small twigs and broken branches. |
10 |
Whole Gale | 55 to 63 mph | Considerable structural damage occurs, especially on roofs. Small trees may be blown over and uprooted. |
11 |
Storm Force | 64 to 75 mph | Widespread damage occurs. Larger trees blown over and uprooted. |
12 |
Hurricane Force | over 75 mph | Severe and extensive damage. Roofs can be peeled off. Windows broken. Trees uprooted. RVs and small mobile homes overturned. Moving automobiles can be pushed off the roadways. |
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