|
Force
|
(Knots)
|
(Km/h)
|
(m/Sec)
|
Description
|
Sea State
|
Probable Wave Height
(m)
|
|
0
|
0-1
|
0-2
|
0-0.5
|
Calm
|
Like a mirror
|
0
|
|
1
|
1-3
|
2-6
|
0.5-1.5
|
Light Air
|
Ripples like scales
are formed
|
0
|
|
2
|
4-6
|
7-11
|
2-3
|
Light Breeze
|
Small wavelets,
still short but more pronounced, not breaking
|
0.1
|
|
3
|
7-10
|
13-19
|
4-5
|
Gentle Breeze
|
Large wavelets,
crests begin to break; a few whitehorses
|
0.4
|
|
4
|
11-16
|
20-30
|
6-8
|
Moderate Breeze
|
Small waves growing
longer; fairly frequent white horses
|
1
|
|
5
|
17-21
|
31-39
|
8-11
|
Fresh Breeze
|
Moderate waves taking
more pronounced form; many white horses. Perhaps some spray
|
2
|
|
6
|
22-27
|
41-50
|
11-14
|
Strong Breeze
|
Large waves forming;
white
breeze foam crests more extensive;
probably some spray
|
3
|
|
7
|
28-33
|
52-61
|
14-17
|
Near Gale
|
Sea heaps up; white
foam
from breaking waves begins
to blow in streaks.
|
4
|
|
8
|
34-40
|
63-74
|
17-21
|
Gale
|
Moderately high
waves of
greater length; edge of crests
break into spindrift; foam
blown in well-marked streaks
|
5.5
|
|
9
|
41-47
|
76-87
|
21-24
|
Severe Gale
|
High waves with
tumbling
crests; dense streaks of foam
spray may affect visibility
|
7
|
|
10
|
48-55
|
89-102
|
25-28
|
Storm
|
Very high waves
with long
overhanging crests; dense
streams of foam make surface
of sea white. Heavy tumbling
sea; visibility affected.
|
9
|
|
11
|
56-63
|
104-117
|
29-33
|
Violent Storm
|
Exceptionally high
waves; sea
completely covered with long
white patches of foam; edges
of wave crests blown into froth.
Visibility affected.
|
11
|
|
12
|
64+
|
118+
|
33+
|
Hurricane
|
Air filled with
foam and spray;
sea completely white with
driving spray; visibility very
seriously affected
|
14
|
|
Force
|
(Knots)
|
(Km/h)
|
(m/Sec)
|
Description
|
Sea State
|
Probable Wave Height
(m)
|
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