Name That Wind Trivia Quiz

Answer: calm

The wind speed is described as calm (0 on the Beaufort Scale) when the wind speed is less than 1 kph. The original scale was based on observations made at sea, because it was developed to help the captains of sailing ships record conditions using terms that were uniform. Beaufort actually referred to the behavior of sails, but we will be considering observations that are easier to make today.

When it is calm, the surface of the sea is flat and smooth, like a mirror.

Answer: light air

When the wind speed is described as a light air (1 on the Beaufort Scale), its speed is between 1 and 5 kph. If you are outdoors, you will hardly notice it. At sea, there will be ripples formed, but they are too small to form waves with distinct peaks.

Answer: light breeze

Beaufort Scale 2, called a light breeze, is a wind moving between 6 and 11 kph. In the original scale, it was identified by describing the ocean surface as having small waves with crests, but which do not break. On a hot summer day, you may be glad to feel a bit of a breeze.

Answer: gentle breeze

A gentle breeze is moving between 12 and 19 kph, and is designated by the number 4 on the Beaufort Scale. At sea, waves will be large enough to break, and some whitecaps will be seen from the resulting foam.

Answer: moderate breeze

When you see papers starting to be blown around, the wind speed is somewhere between 20 and 28 kph (Beaufort 5). Flags will be fully extended, showing the wind direction. At sea, waves will be over a metre high, and whitecaps will be widespread.

Because there are only ten questions for a 13-point scale, we have skipped Beaufort 5, a fresh breeze. This describes a wind between 29 and 38 kph, and you will see larger branches and small trees moving in the wind.

Answer: strong breeze

A strong breeze (Beaufort 6) has a speed between 39 and 49 kph, and you are certainly aware of its presence! If you are in an area with overhead power or telecommunication lines, they will be vibrating strongly enough to produce a humming sound, empty rubbish bins will be blown over, and people may struggle somewhat to keep their clothing (such as coats, hats and skirts) under control.

In the ocean, you will see long waves with heights up to 4m forming, lots of whitecaps, and the breaking waves will be sending spray into the air.

This is the lowest wind speed for which warnings may start to be given.

Answer: high wind

A Beaufort 7 wind (50-61 kph) is also sometimes called a moderate gale or a near gale. On land, conditions will keep most people inside if possible. At sea, waves start to form up to 5.5m high, with long breaking swells forming. In most areas some form of warning about danger to small craft will be issued.

Answer: gale

In places where a high wind is called a moderate gale, this category (Beaufort 8, with winds moving 62 - 74 kph) is called a fresh gale, to show that it has stronger winds than is found in Beaufort 7 conditions. You definitely want to be experiencing this one from indoors (although I remember collecting fallen horse chestnuts from a neighbor's tree under these conditions when I was a child - I am not sure what my parents were thinking).

The next Beaufort category, for winds moving between 75 and 88 kph, is called a strong gale or a severe gale. Take cover - branches are going to be coming off trees, and small trees may be blown over.

Answer: storm

Although people often refer to a storm in everyday usage whenever there is steady precipitation, meteorologists reserve the term to describe Beaufort 10 winds (moving at a speed between 89 and 102 kph), which are usually accompanied by storm warnings. They are also referred to as a whole gale, as distinct from the less intense levels of gale. Emergency services brace themselves to assist those whose roofs are blown away, or which collapse when a tree falls on them. If you're at sea (for reasons best known to yourself), you will find that the spray from the breaking waves is so thick that it reduces visibility, and waves are forming well over 10m high, so you may feel as if you are on a roller coaster.

The next category is a violent storm, which has winds moving between 103 and 117 kph. What you actually see outdoors is pretty much the same as in a storm, only more so.

Answer: hurricane force

The Beaufort scale doesn't worry about precise descriptions once the wind speed is over 118 kph - you're in hurricane conditions, and things are pretty ugly out there, no matter how much stronger the winds get. Special hurricane wind scales have been developed to give you a better idea of the damage you might expect should a tropical cyclone come your way - in the USA, the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale is commonly used. It starts at 1, corresponding to Beaufort 12, and goes up to 5 - when wind speeds are steadily over 251 kph!