The Beaufort Scale
Created in 1805 by Sir Francis Beaufort, this scale helps you estimate wind speed based on what you see on land or at sea.
- Force 0: Calm (Smoke rises vertically)
- Force 6: Strong Breeze (Umbrellas used with difficulty)
- Force 12: Hurricane (Devastation)
Modern Units
- Knots: 1 nautical mile per hour (Used in aviation and marine)
- MPH: Miles per hour (Used in the US and UK for road signs)
- m/s: Meters per second (The scientific standard)
Quick Conversion
- 1 Knot ≈ 1.15 MPH
- 1 m/s ≈ 2.24 MPH
Key Takeaways
- Knots are faster than MPH
- The Beaufort scale is great for visual estimates
- Hurricane category starts at Force 12