BeaufortScale

Beaufort Scale

The Beaufort Scale was developed to categorize marine weather events and was strangely enough originally developed by Admiral Beaufort in the 19th century.

Beaufort Scale
Wind
Description		 Wind Speed
(Knots)

Wind Speed
(Km/Hr)

Additional
Information

 Effects of
Winds at Sea

Probable
Wave Height
(Metres)
Light 0-11 0-21

Wavelets form.
A few creasks
break near 10 kt

 Sails fill above 5 kt.
Light flags extended		 0-1/2
Moderate 12-19 22-35

Waves lengthen.
Frequent white
horses.

 Wind pressure
felt on face. Good
sailing breeze.		 1/2-2
Strong 20-27 37-50

Large waves
form. Extensive
foam crests. 
Some sea spray.

 Heavy flags flap
vigorsously. Small
sailboats in difficulty.		 2-3
Near Gale 28-33 51-61 White foam
from breaking
waves blown
in streaks.

Large sailboats reduce
sal.  Small boats
remain in harbour.

 3-5
Gale 34-47 62-87 Foam streaks
become very
dense.Wave crests
begin to topple.

Heavy flags fly
straight out and whip
from the hoist.

 5-8
Storm 48-63 88-116 Very high waves.
Sea has white
appearance. Visibility affected.		 Large sailing ships
close reefed or
running with lowered topsails.		 8-12
Hurricane 64 and greater >120 Air filled with foam
and spray.  Sea entirely
white. Visibility seriously impaired..

Disastrous to shipping.

Hurricanes have subsequently been
categorized as a
Class 1 to 5
hurricane.

 >12

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