BEAUFORT FORCE

DEFINITION:

Is An Empirical Measure That Relates Wind Speed To Observed Conditions At Sea Or On Land. Its Full Name Is The Beaufort Wind Force Scale.

BEAUFORT FORCE SCALE:

BEAUFORT '0'

PROPERTIES:

  1. Description: Calm.
  2. Wind Speed: Less Than 1 Knot.
  3. Wave Height: 0 M / 0 Ft.
  4. Sea Conditions: Flat.

BEAUFORT '1'

PROPERTIES:

  1. Description: Light Air.
  2. Wind Speed: 1–3 Knots.
  3. Wave Height: 0–0.2 M / 0–1 Ft.
  4. Sea Conditions: Ripples Without Crests.

BEAUFORT '2'

PROPERTIES:

  1. Description: Light Breeze.
  2. Wind Speed: 4–6 Knots.
  3. Wave Height: 00.2–0.5 M / 1–2 Ft.
  4. Sea Conditions: Small Wavelets. Crests Of Glassy Appearance, Not Breaking.

BEAUFORT '3'

PROPERTIES:

  1. Description: Gentle Breeze.
  2. Wind Speed: 7–10 Knots.
  3. Wave Height: 0.5–1 M / 2–3.5 Ft.
  4. Sea Conditions: Large Wavelets. Crests Begin To Break; Scattered Whitecaps.

BEAUFORT '4'

PROPERTIES:

  1. Description: Moderate Breeze.
  2. Wind Speed: 11–16 Knots.
  3. Wave Height: 1–2 M / 3.5–6 Ft.
  4. Sea Conditions: Small Waves With Breaking Crests. Fairly Frequent Whitecaps.

BEAUFORT '5'

PROPERTIES:

  1. Description: Fresh Breeze.
  2. Wind Speed: 17–21 Knots.
  3. Wave Height: 2–3 M / 6–9 Ft.
  4. Sea Conditions: Moderate Waves Of Some Length. Many Whitecaps. Small Amounts Of Spray.

BEAUFORT '6'

PROPERTIES:

  1. Description: Strong Breeze.
  2. Wind Speed: 22–27 Knots.
  3. Wave Height: 3–4 M / 9–13 Ft.
  4. Sea Conditions: Long Waves Begin To Form. White Foam Crests Are Very Frequent. Some Airborne Spray Is Present.

BEAUFORT '7'

PROPERTIES:

  1. Description: High Wind, Moderate Gale, Near Gale.
  2. Wind Speed: 28–33 Knots.
  3. Wave Height: 4–5.5 M / 13–19 Ft.
  4. Sea Conditions: Sea Heaps Up. Some Foam From Breaking Waves Is Blown Into Streaks Along Wind Direction. Moderate Amounts Of Airborne Spray.

BEAUFORT '8'

PROPERTIES:

  1. Description: Gale, Fresh Gale.
  2. Wind Speed: 34–40 Knots.
  3. Wave Height: 5.5–7.5 M / 18–25 Ft.
  4. Sea Conditions: Moderately High Waves With Breaking Crests Forming Spindrift. Well-marked Streaks Of Foam Are Blown Along Wind Direction. Considerable Airborne Spray.

BEAUFORT '9'

PROPERTIES:

  1. Description: Strong/severe Gale.
  2. Wind Speed: 41–47 Knots.
  3. Wave Height: 7–10 M / 23–32 Ft.
  4. Sea Conditions: High Waves Whose Crests Sometimes Roll Over. Dense Foam Is Blown Along Wind Direction. Large Amounts Of Airborne Spray May Begin To Reduce Visibility.

BEAUFORT '10'

PROPERTIES:

  1. Description: Storm, Whole Gale.
  2. Wind Speed: 48–55 Knots.
  3. Wave Height: 9–12.5 M / 29–41 Ft.
  4. Sea Conditions: Very High Waves With Overhanging Crests. 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.

BEAUFORT '11'

PROPERTIES:

  1. Description: Violent Storm.
  2. Wind Speed: 56–63 Knots.
  3. Wave Height: 11.5–16 M / 37–52 Ft.
  4. Sea Conditions: 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.

BEAUFORT '12'

PROPERTIES:

  1. Description: Hurricane Force.
  2. Wind Speed: ≥ 64 Knots.
  3. Wave Height: ≥ 14 M / ≥ 46 Ft.
  4. Sea Conditions: Huge Waves. Sea Is Completely White With Foam And Spray. Air Is Filled With Driving Spray, Greatly Reducing Visibility.