How hard is the wind blowing?
A gentle breeze ruffles your hair. A strong breeze may turn your
umbrella inside out. On these pages you will find out how to tell how
hard the wind is blowing by watching what it does. And you will learn
the names we give to different speeds of wind.
A gentle breeze makes leaves and small twigs move and light flags
flutter. Wind speed is 8-12 miles (12-19 kilometers) per hour.
In a moderate breeze, small branches sway and dust and paper blow
about. Wind speed is 13-18 miles (20-28 kilometers) per hour.
In calm air, smoke rises straight up.
The wind is blowing less than 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) per hour.
In light air, smoke drifts slightly, but weather vanes do not move.
Wind speed is 1-3 miles (1-5 kilometers) per hour.
A light breeze moves weather vanes and makes leaves rustle. Wind speed
is 4-7 miles (6-11 kilometers) per hour.
In a fresh breeze, small trees sway and waves break on lakes. Wind
speed is 19-24 miles (29-38 kilometers) per hour.
A strong breeze makes big branches sway and may turn umbrellas inside
out. Wind speed is 25-31 miles (39-49 kilometers) per hour.
In a moderate gale, whole trees sway and it is hard to walk against
the wind. Wind speed is 32-38 miles (50-61 kilometers) per hour.
A fresh gale breaks twigs off trees and makes walking very difficult.
Wind speed is 39-46 miles (62-74 kilometers) per hour.
A strong gale blows off roofs and may do slight damage to buildings.
Wind speed is 47-54 miles (75-88 kilometers) per hour.
A whole gale will uproot trees and often do much damage to buildings.
Wind speed is 55-63 miles (89-102 kilometers) per hour.
A storm causes widespread damage, but is very rare on land. Wind speed
is 64-73 miles (103-117 kilometers) per hour.
A hurricane causes violent destruction. Wind speed is 74 miles (117
kilometers) or more per hour.
