That Old North Wind Should Begin to Blow Quiz

Answer: Calm

This is level 0 on the Beaufort scale. The sea is like a mirror, so the height of the waves is zero. The wind speed is less than 1 knot, or less than 2 km/h.

The Beaufort scale was named after Francis Beaufort who lived from 1774 to 1857; he was a hydrographer who served as a Rear-Admiral in the Royal Navy. He created the scale, while serving aboard HMS Woolwich, to standardise weather reporting.

Answer: Light air

Level 1 on the Beaufort scale has waves no more than 0.3m high. On land the wind direction can be seen by the drift of smoke, but it is not strong enough to move a wind vane. The speed is given as 1-3 knots, or 2-5 km/h.

The scale was officially adopted in the 1830s, and was first used aboard HMS Beagle. The ship was then under the command of Captain Robert FitzRoy, who was to become known for his weather-forecasting.

Answer: Light breeze

At level 2 of the Beaufort scale, the wind will move a wind vane. At sea the waves have reached 0.3-0.6m and have glassy crests, but they do not break. Wind speed is 4-6 knots or 6-11 km/h.

Initially the Beaufort scale just described the effects of the wind on the sails of a frigate. The scale started with 'just sufficient to give steerage', and went up to 'that which no canvas sails could withstand'.

Answer: Gentle breeze

This is level 3 of the Beaufort scale, with waves from 0.6m to 1.2m. Light flags will fly on land, and leaves and small twigs will be in motion. The speed is 7-10 knots or 12-19 km/h.

The International Meteorological Organisation held its first conference in Brussels in 1853, and decided to accept Beaufort's scale as an international standard.

Answer: Moderate breeze

At level 4 on the Beaufort scale, small branches will move, too. At sea the waves become bigger, 1-2m, and white horses can be seen. Wind speed is 11-16 knots or 20-28 km/h.

In 1916, with the growth of steam power for shipping, the designations of the Beaufort scale were changed to reflect the behaviour of the sea, rather than the sails on a ship. Descriptions of conditions on land were added, too.

Answer: Fresh breeze

This is level 5 of the Beaufort scale, when small trees begin to sway. At sea the waves are 2-3m high, and there is a chance of some spray forming. The wind reaches speeds of 17-21 knots or 29-38 km/h.

The wave heights in the Beaufort scale are those on the open sea, not near to the shore. The wind speeds are averages, which would be measured by equipment about 10m above ground level. At ground level the wind would generally be between half and three quarters of those speeds, with gusts which are higher.

Answer: Strong breeze

At level 6 it can be hard to use an umbrella, and telegraph lines can be heard whistling. There are large waves at sea, 3-4m, with extensive white crests, and spray. The speed is 22-27 knots or 39-49 km/h.

The wind speeds in the Beaufort scale are given in four different units, which are not exact equivalents of each other. There is a formula which states that the wind speed in knots is thirteen eighths of the square root of the cube of the Beaufort number!

Answer: High wind

Level 7 of the Beaufort scale is also designated as a moderate gale, or near gale. It can be difficult to walk, and whole trees are moving. The large waves are from 4m to 5.5m high, and the sea is described as 'heaping up'. Wind speed is 28-33 knots or 53-61 km/h.

Spindrift, sometimes known as spoondrift, is the word used to describe the streaks of spray blown from the crests of the waves. This phenomenon appears first at level 7 of the Beaufort scale. The word is also used to refer to fine snow or sand blown by the wind.

Answer: Gale

This is level 8, and it is sometimes described as a fresh gale. The waves are 5.5-7.5m high, and foam is blown into streaks. The wind reaches speeds of 34-40 knots or 62-74 km/h.

Originally major storms would be referred to by their location, or the date when they occurred. But giving them individual names avoided confusion if two or more storms were very close together.

Answer: Severe gale

Also known as a strong gale, this is level 9 of the Beaufort scale. The high waves have reached 7-10m, the sea starts to roll and visibility is affected by spray. The speed is 41-47 knots or 75-88 km/h.

By the middle of the twentieth century, Atlantic hurricanes were being given girls' names. By the end of the century, the names were issued in alphabetical order, and included both boys' and girls' names.

Answer: Storm

Level 10 of the Beaufort scale is also described as a whole gale, and it rarely occurs inland, but it can cause a lot of structural damage when it does. At sea the waves are from 9m to 12.5m high, with overhanging crests and foam blowing in large streaks; spray seriously reduces the visibility. Wind speed is 48-55 knots or 89-102 km/h.

There is a list of names which rotates every six years for storms off the east and west coasts of North America. However, it is generally accepted that if a named storm causes major destruction and/or loss of life, that name won't be used again for another storm, and a different name is added to the list.

Answer: Violent storm

At level 11, the waves are between 11.5m and 16m high, so high enough to hide some smaller and medium-sized ships for a while. Although it is a rare occurrence, such a storm would cause widespread damage on land. The wind reaches speeds of 56-63 knots or 103-117 km/h.

Europe adopted storm naming by the beginning of the twenty-first century. The Nordic countries of Norway, Sweden and Denmark formed one group to name storms in their region. France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium and Luxembourg formed another group to name storms in south-western Europe. Ireland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom formed a third group to name storms from the west and north-west.

Answer: Hurricane

Level 12 on the Beaufort scale is extremely rare, especially on land. The Royal Meteorological Society uses one word to describe the effects of such a storm on land - devastation! At sea, visibility is very seriously affected, and the surface appears white with the driving spray. The waves are over 14m high, and the speed is in excess of 63 knots or 117 km/h.

In 1946, the Beaufort scale was extended to include levels 13 to 17. But these levels are only used, in parts of south-east Asia, for extreme tropical storms, or typhoons.