Wind Speed Estimation |
Description |
less than 1 mph
|
Calm; smoke rises vertically
|
1 - 3 mph
|
Direction of wind shown by smoke drift,
but not by wind vanes
|
4 - 7 mph
|
Wind felt on face; leaves rustle;
ordinary vane moved by wind
|
8 - 12 mph
|
Leaves and small twigs in constant motion;
wind extends light flag
|
13 - 18 mph
|
Raises dust and loose paper;
small branches are moved
|
19 - 24 mph
|
Small trees in leaf begin to sway;
crested wavelets form on inland waters
|
25 - 31 mph
|
Large branches in motion;
whistling heard in telephone wires
|
32 - 38 mph
|
Whole trees in motion;
inconvenience felt walking against the wind
|
39 - 46 mph
|
Breaks twigs off trees;
wind generally impedes progress
|
47 - 54 mph
|
Slight structural damage
occurs
|
Severe begins at 58 mph
|
|
55 - 63 mph
|
Damage to chimneys and TV antennas;
pushes over shallow rooted trees
|
64 - 74 mph
|
Rarely experienced;
structural damage becomes possible
|
above 75 mph
|
Very rarely experienced; see
Fujita scale descriptions
|