Beaufort Winds - Dec. 19, 2008

  From Chris: I partially remember learning in Boy Scouts many years ago a
scale used to measure or estimate winds. What was the name for it and is
it accurate?  

     Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort began coming up with a way to estimate wind
speeds when he was in the British Navy. He assigned a wind force value based
on the speeds expected for sailing ships. His early versions would help sailors
better understand what rigging would be needed based on the winds. 

     Beaufort developed a weather coding system that would be used be the
entire British Navy. Later wind speeds were assigned to his wind force scale
and finally indicators we see on land were added to the scale.

     Here is an example of some of the Beaufort Scale: 1-3 mph winds if
the direction of smoke rises and moves in the direction of the wind, but
not detected by wind vanes. 4-7 mph winds if wind can be felt on face;
leaves rustle; vanes moved by wind. 8-12 mph winds if leaves and small
twigs in constant motion; wind extends light flags.

     The scale continues to hurricane force winds. I’m not sure if they
teach the Beaufort Scale today but you can use it even if you are not
a scout.

If you have a weather question, send it to: askdan@kjrh.com