Beaufort scale

Beaufort number Wind speed Description Wave height What the sea looks like What it looks like on land Sea state photo
km/h mph kts m/s m ft
0 <1 <1 <1 <0.3 Calm 0 0 Flat and little movement. Calm. Smoke rises vertically. Beaufort scale 0.jpg
1 1-5 1-3 1-3 0.3-1.5 Light air 0.1 0.33 Ripples without crests. Wind motion visible in smoke. Beaufort scale 1.jpg
2 6-11 3-7 4-6 1.5-3.3 Light breeze 0.2 0.66 Small wavelets. Crests of glassy appearance, not breaking Wind felt on exposed skin. Leaves rustle. Beaufort scale 2.jpg
3 12-19 8-12 7-10 3.3-5.5 Gentle breeze 0.6 2 Large wavelets. Crests begin to break; scattered whitecaps Leaves and smaller twigs in constant motion. Beaufort scale 3.jpg
4 20-28 13-17 11-16 5.5-8.0 Moderate breeze 1 3.3 Small waves. Dust and loose paper raised. Small branches begin to move. Beaufort scale 4.jpg
5 29-38 18-24 17-21 8.0-10.8 Fresh breeze 2 6.6 Moderate (1.2 m) longer waves. Some foam and spray. Branches of a moderate size move. Small trees begin to sway. Beaufort scale 5.jpg
6 39-49 25-30 22-27 10.8-13.9 Strong breeze 3 9.9 Large waves with foam crests and some spray. Large branches in motion. Whistling heard in overhead wires. Umbrella use becomes difficult. Empty plastic garbage cans tip over. Beaufort scale 6.jpg
7 50-61 31-38 28-33 13.9-17.2 High wind, Moderate Gale, Near Gale 4 13.1 Sea heaps up and foam begins to streak. Whole trees in motion. Effort needed to walk against the wind. Swaying of skyscrapers may be felt, especially by people on upper floors. Beaufort scale 7.jpg
8 62-74 39-46 34-40 17.2-20.7 Fresh Gale 5.5 18 Moderately high waves with breaking crests forming spindrift. Streaks of foam. Twigs broken from trees. Cars veer on road. Beaufort scale 8.jpg
9 75-88 47-54 41-47 20.7-24.5 Strong Gale 7 23 High waves (6-7 m) with dense foam. Wave crests start to roll over. Considerable spray. Larger branches break off trees, and some small trees blow over. Construction/temporary signs and barricades blow over. Damage to circus tents and canopies. Beaufort scale 9.jpg
10 89-102 55-63 48-55 24.5-28.4 Whole Gale/Storm 9 29.5 Very high waves. Large patches of foam from wave crests give the sea a white appearance. Considerable tumbling of waves with heavy impact. Large amounts of airborne spray reduce visibility. Trees are broken off or uprooted, saplings bent and deformed, poorly attached asphalt shingles and shingles in poor condition peel off roofs. Beaufort scale 10.jpg
11 103-117 64-72 56-63 28.4-32.6 Violent storm 11.5 37.7 Exceptionally high waves. Very large patches of foam, driven before the wind, cover much of the sea surface. Very large amounts of airborne spray severely reduce visibility. Widespread vegetation damage. More damage to most roofing surfaces, asphalt tiles that have curled up and/or fractured due to age may break away completely. Beaufort scale 11.jpg
12 ≥118 ≥73 ≥64 ≥32.6 Hurricane-force ≥14 ≥46 Huge waves. Sea is completely white with foam and spray. Air is filled with driving spray, greatly reducing visibility. Considerable and widespread damage to vegetation, a few windows broken, structural damage to mobile homes and poorly constructed sheds and barns. Debris may be hurled about. Beaufort scale 12.jpg