💨 Beaufort Wind Scale Calculator

How to use

1. Enter the measured wind speed in the input field.
2. Select the unit your figure is in: m/s, km/h, knots, or mph.
3. Read the Beaufort force it maps to — from force 0 (calm) up to force 12 (hurricane) — along with cards describing the sea state and how trees and branches move on land.

FAQ

When was the Beaufort wind scale created?

Admiral Francis Beaufort of the British Royal Navy devised it in 1805, basing it on the state of the sea and how a sailing ship handled in it. It was built for judging wind strength by eye in an era before weather instruments, and it still serves as a useful reference in weather warnings and maritime safety guidance today.

Does the same Beaufort number feel different at sea versus on land?

Yes. Because the scale was originally designed around sea-state conditions, each level has separate descriptions for the ocean (wave height, sea spray) and for land (swaying branches, umbrellas turning inside out). Force 6, for instance, means large waves with white foam crests spreading widely at sea, but on land it means umbrellas become hard to use and wires start to whistle.

Does the same Beaufort number feel different at sea versus on land?

Yes. Because the scale was originally designed around sea-state conditions, each level has separate descriptions for the ocean (wave height, sea spray) and for land (swaying branches, umbrellas turning inside out). Force 6, for instance, means large waves with white foam crests spreading widely at sea, but on land it means umbrellas become hard to use and wires start to whistle.