Beaufort wind scale
Regions and countries use reference points; choose a place for a local result.
The Beaufort scale rates wind from 0 (calm, under 1 km/h) to 12 (hurricane force, 118 km/h / 64 knots or more).
Right now in LondonForce 3
- 3.5 m/s
- 12.6 km/h
- 7.8 mph
- 6.8 knots
- Force 3: Gentle breeze
Beaufort wind scale
| Level | Description | km/h | m/s | knots | mph | What you see on land |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Calm | < 1 | < 0.3 | < 1 | < 1 | Smoke rises vertically |
| 1 | Light air | 1–5 | 0.3–1.5 | 1–3 | 1–3 | Smoke drifts; vanes still |
| 2 | Light breeze | 6–11 | 1.6–3.3 | 4–6 | 4–7 | Wind felt on face; leaves rustle |
| 3 | Gentle breeze | 12–19 | 3.4–5.4 | 7–10 | 8–12 | Leaves and twigs in constant motion |
| 4 | Moderate breeze | 20–28 | 5.5–7.9 | 11–16 | 13–18 | Dust and loose paper raised; small branches move |
| 5 | Fresh breeze | 29–38 | 8.0–10.7 | 17–21 | 19–24 | Small trees sway |
| 6 | Strong breeze | 39–49 | 10.8–13.8 | 22–27 | 25–31 | Large branches move; umbrellas hard to use |
| 7 | Near gale | 50–61 | 13.9–17.1 | 28–33 | 32–38 | Whole trees move; walking against the wind is hard |
| 8 | Gale | 62–74 | 17.2–20.7 | 34–40 | 39–46 | Twigs break off trees |
| 9 | Strong gale | 75–88 | 20.8–24.4 | 41–47 | 47–54 | Slight structural damage; roof tiles lifted |
| 10 | Storm | 89–102 | 24.5–28.4 | 48–55 | 55–63 | Trees uprooted; considerable damage |
| 11 | Violent storm | 103–117 | 28.5–32.6 | 56–63 | 64–72 | Widespread damage |
| 12 | Hurricane force | ≥ 118 | ≥ 32.7 | ≥ 64 | ≥ 73 | Devastation |
Beaufort force right now by country (capital cities)
| Place | km/h | m/s | knots | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ireland | 20.2 | 5.6 | 10.9 | 4 · Moderate breeze |
| Tanzania | 20.2 | 5.6 | 10.9 | 4 · Moderate breeze |
| New Zealand | 19.8 | 5.5 | 10.7 | 4 · Moderate breeze |
| Fiji | 16.2 | 4.5 | 8.7 | 3 · Gentle breeze |
| Belgium | 15.1 | 4.2 | 8.2 | 3 · Gentle breeze |
| Netherlands | 13.0 | 3.6 | 7.0 | 3 · Gentle breeze |
| Portugal | 13.0 | 3.6 | 7.0 | 3 · Gentle breeze |
| France | 12.6 | 3.5 | 6.8 | 3 · Gentle breeze |
| United Kingdom | 12.6 | 3.5 | 6.8 | 3 · Gentle breeze |
| Australia | 12.2 | 3.4 | 6.6 | 3 · Gentle breeze |
| Finland | 11.9 | 3.3 | 6.4 | 2 · Light breeze |
| Macau | 11.2 | 3.1 | 6.0 | 2 · Light breeze |
| Argentina | 10.4 | 2.9 | 5.6 | 2 · Light breeze |
| Austria | 10.1 | 2.8 | 5.4 | 2 · Light breeze |
| Senegal | 10.1 | 2.8 | 5.4 | 2 · Light breeze |
| South Africa | 10.1 | 2.8 | 5.4 | 2 · Light breeze |
| Russia | 9.7 | 2.7 | 5.2 | 2 · Light breeze |
| Sudan | 9.7 | 2.7 | 5.2 | 2 · Light breeze |
| Czechia | 9.4 | 2.6 | 5.1 | 2 · Light breeze |
| Mexico | 9.4 | 2.6 | 5.1 | 2 · Light breeze |
| Canada | 9.0 | 2.5 | 4.9 | 2 · Light breeze |
| Hong Kong | 9.0 | 2.5 | 4.9 | 2 · Light breeze |
| Angola | 8.6 | 2.4 | 4.7 | 2 · Light breeze |
| Spain | 8.6 | 2.4 | 4.7 | 2 · Light breeze |
| Ukraine | 8.6 | 2.4 | 4.7 | 2 · Light breeze |
| Zimbabwe | 8.6 | 2.4 | 4.7 | 2 · Light breeze |
| Bahrain | 8.3 | 2.3 | 4.5 | 2 · Light breeze |
| Peru | 8.3 | 2.3 | 4.5 | 2 · Light breeze |
| Sweden | 8.3 | 2.3 | 4.5 | 2 · Light breeze |
| Afghanistan | 7.9 | 2.2 | 4.3 | 2 · Light breeze |
| Poland | 7.9 | 2.2 | 4.3 | 2 · Light breeze |
| United States | 7.9 | 2.2 | 4.3 | 2 · Light breeze |
| Bhutan | 6.8 | 1.9 | 3.7 | 2 · Light breeze |
| Oman | 6.8 | 1.9 | 3.7 | 2 · Light breeze |
| Papua New Guinea | 6.8 | 1.9 | 3.7 | 2 · Light breeze |
| Cameroon | 6.5 | 1.8 | 3.5 | 2 · Light breeze |
| Germany | 6.5 | 1.8 | 3.5 | 2 · Light breeze |
| Ghana | 6.5 | 1.8 | 3.5 | 2 · Light breeze |
| Zambia | 6.5 | 1.8 | 3.5 | 2 · Light breeze |
| Chile | 6.1 | 1.7 | 3.3 | 2 · Light breeze |
| Iran | 6.1 | 1.7 | 3.3 | 2 · Light breeze |
| Kenya | 6.1 | 1.7 | 3.3 | 2 · Light breeze |
| Rwanda | 5.8 | 1.6 | 3.1 | 2 · Light breeze |
| United Arab Emirates | 5.8 | 1.6 | 3.1 | 2 · Light breeze |
| Brazil | 5.4 | 1.5 | 2.9 | 1 · Light air |
| Colombia | 5.4 | 1.5 | 2.9 | 1 · Light air |
| Japan | 5.4 | 1.5 | 2.9 | 1 · Light air |
| Algeria | 5.0 | 1.4 | 2.7 | 1 · Light air |
| Kuwait | 5.0 | 1.4 | 2.7 | 1 · Light air |
| Qatar | 5.0 | 1.4 | 2.7 | 1 · Light air |
| South Korea | 5.0 | 1.4 | 2.7 | 1 · Light air |
| Taiwan | 5.0 | 1.4 | 2.7 | 1 · Light air |
| Egypt | 4.7 | 1.3 | 2.5 | 1 · Light air |
| Israel | 4.7 | 1.3 | 2.5 | 1 · Light air |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 4.7 | 1.3 | 2.5 | 1 · Light air |
| Ethiopia | 4.3 | 1.2 | 2.3 | 1 · Light air |
| Jamaica | 4.3 | 1.2 | 2.3 | 1 · Light air |
| Jordan | 4.3 | 1.2 | 2.3 | 1 · Light air |
| China | 4.0 | 1.1 | 2.1 | 1 · Light air |
| Italy | 4.0 | 1.1 | 2.1 | 1 · Light air |
| Turkey | 4.0 | 1.1 | 2.1 | 1 · Light air |
| India | 3.6 | 1.0 | 1.9 | 1 · Light air |
| Brunei | 3.2 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 1 · Light air |
| Pakistan | 3.2 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 1 · Light air |
| Saudi Arabia | 3.2 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 1 · Light air |
| Uganda | 3.2 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 1 · Light air |
| Iraq | 2.9 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 1 · Light air |
| Morocco | 2.9 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 1 · Light air |
| Singapore | 2.9 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 1 · Light air |
| Uzbekistan | 2.9 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 1 · Light air |
| DR Congo | 2.5 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 1 · Light air |
| Indonesia | 2.5 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 1 · Light air |
| Mozambique | 2.5 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 1 · Light air |
| Myanmar | 2.5 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 1 · Light air |
| Tunisia | 2.5 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 1 · Light air |
| Cambodia | 2.2 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 1 · Light air |
| Maldives | 2.2 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 1 · Light air |
| Nepal | 2.2 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 1 · Light air |
| Norway | 2.2 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 1 · Light air |
| Vietnam | 2.2 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 1 · Light air |
| Sri Lanka | 1.8 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 1 · Light air |
| Ivory Coast | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 1 · Light air |
| Thailand | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 1 · Light air |
| Bangladesh | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 1 · Light air |
| Laos | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 1 · Light air |
| Malaysia | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 1 · Light air |
| Nigeria | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0 · Calm |
| Philippines | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0 · Calm |
What is the Beaufort scale?
Devised by Royal Navy officer Francis Beaufort in 1805 and later fixed to measured speeds, the scale describes wind by its visible effects. Forecasters still use it in marine forecasts, and the thresholds above follow the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
Find a force from any speed
Enter a speed in the box above and pick the unit; the matching row is highlighted in the table. To convert the speed itself between units, use the wind speed converter.
Live values come from global weather models (ECMWF, ICON, GFS) via Open-Meteo and refresh every 15 minutes. All calculations on this page run in your browser.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is force 6 on the Beaufort scale?
A strong breeze: 22–27 knots, 39–49 km/h, 25–31 mph. Large branches move and umbrellas are hard to use.
Is there a Beaufort force above 12?
The WMO scale stops at 12. Some countries, such as China and Vietnam, extend it to force 17 for typhoons.
What is the difference between a gale and a storm?
A gale is force 8 (62–74 km/h); a storm is force 10 (89–102 km/h).