Wind and Weather
For your own safety you should always inform about the current weather conditions before you start your boat trip. A short overview of the wind intensity and its impact on land and sea / ocean you will find in the following summary.
Wind forces
Beaufort
0
< 1 km/h
0-0,2 m/s
0 kts.
0-0,2 m/s
0 kts.
Calm
Flat
Calm. Smoke rises vertically.
Calm. Smoke rises vertically.
Beaufort
1
1-5 km/h
0,3-1,5 m/s
1-3 kts.
0,3-1,5 m/s
1-3 kts.
Light air
Ripples without crests.
Smoke drift indicates wind direction. Leaves and wind vanes are stationary.
Smoke drift indicates wind direction. Leaves and wind vanes are stationary.
Beaufort
2
6-11 km/h
1,6-3,3 m/s
4-6 kts.
1,6-3,3 m/s
4-6 kts.
Light breeze
Small wavelets. Crests of glassy appearance, not breaking.
Wind felt on exposed skin. Leaves rustle. Wind vanes begin to move.
Wind felt on exposed skin. Leaves rustle. Wind vanes begin to move.
Beaufort
3
12-19 km/h
3,4-5,4 m/s
7-10 kts.
3,4-5,4 m/s
7-10 kts.
Gentle breeze
Large wavelets. Crests begin to break; scattered whitecaps
Leaves and small twigs constantly moving, light flags extended.
Leaves and small twigs constantly moving, light flags extended.
Beaufort
4
20-28 km/h
5,5-7,9 m/s
11-16 kts.
5,5-7,9 m/s
11-16 kts.
Moderate breeze
Small waves with breaking crests. Fairly frequent whitecaps.
Dust and loose paper raised. Small branches begin to move.
Dust and loose paper raised. Small branches begin to move.
Beaufort
5
29-38 km/h
8,0-10,7 m/s
17-21 kts.
8,0-10,7 m/s
17-21 kts.
Fresh breeze
Moderate waves of some length. Many whitecaps. Small amounts of spray.
Branches of a moderate size move. Small trees in leaf begin to sway.
Branches of a moderate size move. Small trees in leaf begin to sway.
Beaufort
6
39-49 km/h
10,8-13,8 m/s
22-27 kts.
10,8-13,8 m/s
22-27 kts.
Strong breeze
Long waves begin to form. White foam crests are very frequent. Some airborne spray is present.
Large branches in motion. Whistling heard in overhead wires. Umbrella use becomes difficult. Empty plastic bins tip over.
Large branches in motion. Whistling heard in overhead wires. Umbrella use becomes difficult. Empty plastic bins tip over.
Beaufort
7
50-61 km/h
13,9-17,1 m/s
28-33 kts.
13,9-17,1 m/s
28-33 kts.
High wind, moderate gale, near gale
sea heaps up. Some foam from breaking waves is blown into streaks along wind direction. Moderate amounts of airborne spray.
Whole trees in motion. Effort needed to walk against the wind.
Whole trees in motion. Effort needed to walk against the wind.
Beaufort
8
62-74 km/h
17,2-20,7 m/s
34-40 kts.
17,2-20,7 m/s
34-40 kts.
Gale, fresh gale
Moderately high waves with breaking crests forming spindrift. Well-marked streaks of foam are blown along wind direction. Considerable airborne spray.
Some twigs broken from trees. Cars veer on road. Progress on foot is seriously impeded.
Some twigs broken from trees. Cars veer on road. Progress on foot is seriously impeded.
Beaufort
9
75-88 km/h
20,8-24,4 m/s
41-47 kts.
20,8-24,4 m/s
41-47 kts.
Strong gale
Dense foam is blown along wind direction. Large amounts of airborne spray may begin to reduce visibility.
Some branches break off trees, and some small trees blow over. Construction/temporary signs and barricades blow over.
Some branches break off trees, and some small trees blow over. Construction/temporary signs and barricades blow over.
Beaufort
10
89-102 km/h
24,5-28,4 m/s
48-55 kts.
24,5-28,4 m/s
48-55 kts.
Storm, whole gale
Very high waves with overhanging crests. Large patches of foam from wave crests give the sea a white appearance. Considerable tumbling of waves with heavy impact. Large amounts of airborne spray reduce visibility.
Trees are broken off or uprooted, structural damage likely.
Trees are broken off or uprooted, structural damage likely.
Beaufort
11
103-117 km/h
28,5-32,6 m/s
56-63 kts.
28,5-32,6 m/s
56-63 kts.
violent storm
Exceptionally high waves. Very large patches of foam, driven before the wind, cover much of the sea surface. Very large amounts of airborne spray severely reduce visibility.
Widespread vegetation and structural damage likely.
Widespread vegetation and structural damage likely.
Beaufort
12
> 117 km/h
> 32,7 m/s
> 64 kts.
> 32,7 m/s
> 64 kts.
Hurricane force
Huge waves. sea is completely white with foam and spray. Air is filled with driving spray, greatly reducing visibility.
Severe widespread damage to vegetation and structures. Debris and unsecured objects are hurled about.
Severe widespread damage to vegetation and structures. Debris and unsecured objects are hurled about.