How Fast Is It? 

You can estimate wind speed with the Beaufort Scale.  It was developed in 1805 by a Navy admiral to measure wind at sea.  But we can also use it to measure wind on land.

Miles Per Hour           Effects   

<1  Smoke rises straight up, no motion

1-3 Smoke drifts slowly, tree leaves barely move

4-7 Leaves rustle, wind felt on face

13-18 Small branches move, dust and paper blown away.             

19-24 Small trees and large branches sway

25-31 Big branches move a lot, wind whistles, umbrellas
turn inside out.

32-38 Whole trees sway, hard to walk

39-46 Tree twigs break, very hard to walk

47-54 Branches, roof tiles blown down

55-63 Trees uprooted, severe building damage

64-72 Widespread building damage

73+ Severe destruction

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©Copyright 2004 Nick Walker/Small Gate Media