| Description | Wind Speed Knots |
Wind Speed Km |
Force | Land | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calm | 0 - 1 | 0 1 | 0 | Smoke rises vertically |
Water is like a mirror. Cannot sail. |
| Light Air | 1 - 3 | 1 - 5 | 1 | Smoke indicates direction. Not enough wind for vanes | Small ripples on water. Enough wind for a light Spinnaker |
| Light Breeze | 4 - 6 | 6 - 11 | 2 | Wind felt on face. Tree leaves start moving. Vanes now indicate direction. | Small wavelets. Wind now fills sail. |
| Gentle Breeze | 7 - 10 | 12 - 19 | 3 | Small flags are extended. Leaves move constantly. | Large wavelets. Sailboats start to heel. |
| Moderate Breeze | 11 - 16 | 20 - 28 | 4 | Dust is raised by wind. Small branches start bending. | Good working breeze. Saiboats at hull speed, full sail. |
| Fresh Breeze | 17 - 21 | 29 - 38 | 5 | Small trees are reacting to wind. | Numerous whitecaps. Time to shorten sails. |
| Strong Breeze | 22 - 27 | 39 - 49 | 6 | Wind now whistles. Most branches in trees moving. | Whitecaps eveywhere. Sailboats start to head ashore. |
| Near Gale | 28 33 | 50 - 61 | 7 | Whole trees now move. | Much bigger waves. Sailboats remain at harbour. |
| Gale | 34 - 40 | 62 - 74 | 8 | Small branches are starting to break. Walking in now hard. | Foam in well marked streaks. All boats now head in. |
| Strong Gale | 41 - 47 | 75 - 88 | 9 | Buildings are starting to show small damage. | Low visibility due to spray. |
| Storm | 48 - 55 | 89 - 102 | 10 | Dangerous Situation | High seas over 8 metres |
| Violent Storm | 56 - 63 | 103 - 117 | 11 | Dangerous situation | High seas over 10 metres |
| Hurricane | Over 63 | Over 117 | 12 | Dangerous situation | High seas over 14 metres |
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale - information about storm categories.
Information originally posted at Pat's BOATING IN CANADA
"If one does not know to which port one is sailing, no wind is favorable." - Seneca
