Wind Estimation
Submitted by N1FI on Thu, 11/12/2009 - 21:51
Some History -
The Fujita scale was developed for rating tornadoes based on their intensity. The Beaufort scale was developed by the British Navy to estimate wind speed.
| Beaufort# | MPH | Observation |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0-1 | Smoke Rises Vertically |
| 1 | 1-3 | Smoke Drifts slowly |
| 2 | 4-7 | Leaves Rustle |
| 3 | 8-12 | Leaves and Twigs in motion |
| 4 | 13-18 | Small branches move |
| 5 | 19-24 | Small Trees sway |
| 6 | 25-31 | Large branches sway |
| 7 | 32-38 | Whole trees in motion |
| 8 | 39-46 | Twigs Break off trees |
| 9 | 47-54 | Branches Break |
| 10 | 55-63 | Trees snap and are blown down |
| 11 | 64-72 | Wide spread damage |
| 12 | 73-82 | Extreme damage |
The Enhanced Fujita Scale
http://www.spc.noaa.gov/efscale/ef-scale.html