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The first scale to estimate wind force with general description in english, italian, french and spanish
NOTE
The waves probable height shows the expectable conditions of the open sea, very far from
the coasts. It should never be used in opposite sense to estimate or signal the sea state.
Please remember that in internal seas and near the coasts with land winds, the waves will be lower
HISTORY
The scale takes its name from admiral Francis Beaufort (1774-1857), hydrographer of the Royal Navy,
who in 1805 proposed a method to classify the wind force into 13 degrees. In 1831 the scale was
first used on the Beagle in the celebrated voyage and in 1838 it was officially adopted by
British Admiralty and later by all other countries
DOUGLAS SCALE
WAVE CLIMATE
PILOT CHARTS
TIDE PREDICTION
NOTICE TO MARINERS
METEOMED™
REPORT
METEOMAR
FORECASTS
CHARTS
CLIMATE
OBSERVATIONS
WEBCAM
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BEAUFORT SCALE
WIND FORCE AND GENERAL DESCRIPTION |
WIND SPEED |
WIND EFFECTS ON THE SEA |
WAVES PROBABLE HEIGHT IN METERS |

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|
 m/sec |
 knots |
 (open sea) |
 average |
 max |
 |
0 |
Calm Calma Calme Calma |
0 - 0,2 |
up to 1 |
Sea like a mirror |
- |
- |
 |
1 |
Light air Bava di vento Très légère brise Ventolina |
0,3 - 1,5 |
1 - 3 |
Ripples without foam crests |
0,1 |
0,1 |
 |
2 |
Light breeze Brezza leggera Légére brise Flojito, Brisa muy débil |
1,6 - 3,3 |
4 - 6 |
Small wavelets. Crests have a glassy appearance and do not break |
0,2 |
0,3 |
 |
3 |
Gentle breeze Brezza tesa Petit brise Flojo, Brisa débil |
3,4 - 5,4 |
7 - 10 |
Large wavelets and crests begin to break. Possible scattered white horses |
0,6 |
1,0 |
 |
4 |
Moderate breeze Vento moderato Jolie brise Bonancible, Brisa moderada |
5,5 - 7,9 |
11 - 16 |
Small waves with fairly frequent white horses |
1,0 |
1,5 |
 |
5 |
Fresh breeze Vento teso Bonne brise Fresquito, Brisa fresca |
8,0 - 10,7 |
17 - 21 |
Moderate waves with many white horses |
2,0 |
2,5 |
 |
6 |
Strong breeze Vento fresco Vent frais Fresco, Brisa fuerte |
10,8 - 13,8 |
22 - 27 |
Large waves white foam crests. Probably some spray |
3,0 |
4,0 |
 |
7 |
Near gale Vento forte Grand frais Frescachó, Viento fuerte |
13,9 - 17,1 |
28 - 33 |
Mounting sea with foam blown in streaks downwind |
4,0 |
5,5 |
 |
8 |
Gale Burrasca Coup de vent Viento duro |
17,2 - 20,7 |
34 - 40 |
Moderately high waves with crests beginning to break into spindrift |
5,5 |
7,5 |
 |
9 |
Strong gale Burrasca forte Fort coup de vent Viento muy duro |
20,8 - 24,4 |
41 - 47 |
High waves with dense foam along the direction of the wind. Crests begin to roll over and spray may affect visibility |
7,0 |
10,0 |
 |
10 |
Storm Tempesta Tempête Temporal |
24,5 - 28,4 |
48 - 55 |
Very high waves with long overhanging crests. Heavy sea roll and the surface is generally white. Visibility affected |
9,0 |
12,5 |
 |
11 |
Violent storm Tempesta violenta Violent tempête Temporal duro, Borrasca |
28,5 - 32,6 |
56 - 63 |
Exceptionally high waves. The sea is completely covered with foam patches lying downwind. Visibility poor |
11,5 |
16,0 |
 |
12 |
Hurricane Uragano Ouragan Huracán |
over 32,7 |
over 64 |
Huge waves. The air is filled with foam and spray. Sea completely white. Visibility bad |
14,0 |
- |
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