Editing Beaufort scale (section)

== Modern scale ==
The leftmost column gives the Beaufort scale number, followed by a description, wind speed, wave height, sea conditions, land conditions, photo of the sea, and the associated warning flag.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|+Beaufort scale<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Beaufort Scale|url=https://www.rmets.org/metmatters/beaufort-scale|access-date=2021-07-06|website=RMetS|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title = Beaufort wind force scale| url = http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/guide/weather/marine/beaufort-scale| publisher = Met Office| access-date = 27 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title = Beaufort Scale| url = http://www.rmets.org/weather-and-climate/observing/beaufort-scale| publisher = Royal Meteorological Society| access-date = 27 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia| title = Beaufort Scale| url = https://www.britannica.com/science/Beaufort-scale| encyclopedia = Encyclopædia Britannica| access-date = 27 November 2015}}</ref>
|-
! Beaufort<br />number !! Description !! Wind speed !! Wave<br />height !! width="180" | Sea conditions !! width="120"|Land conditions !! Sea conditions<br />(photo) !! Associated<br />warning flag
|-
!style="background-color: #FFFFFF; font-size: large;" id="Beaufort_Number_0"| 0
| Calm
| < 1&nbsp;[[Knot (unit)|knot]]<br>< 1&nbsp;[[Miles per hour|mph]]<br>< 1&nbsp;[[Kilometres per hour|km/h]]<br> 0–0.2&nbsp;[[Metre per second|m/s]]
| 0&nbsp;ft<br>0&nbsp;m
| Sea like a mirror
| Smoke rises vertically
| [[File:beaufort scale 0.jpg|120px]]
|
|-
!style="background-color: #AEF1F9; font-size: large;" id="Beaufort_Number_1"| 1
| Light air
| 1–3&nbsp;knots<br>1–3&nbsp;mph<br>1–5&nbsp;km/h<br>0.3–1.5&nbsp;m/s
| 0–1&nbsp;ft<br>0–0.3&nbsp;m
| Ripples with appearance of scales are formed, without foam crests
| Direction shown by smoke drift but not by wind vanes
| [[File:beaufort scale 1.jpg|120px]]
|
|-
!style="background-color: #96F7DC; font-size: large;" id="Beaufort_Number_2"| 2
| Light breeze
| 4–6&nbsp;knots<br>4–7&nbsp;mph<br>6–11&nbsp;km/h<br>1.6–3.3&nbsp;m/s
| 1–2&nbsp;ft<br>0.3–0.6&nbsp;m
| Small wavelets still short but more pronounced; crests have a glassy appearance but do not break
| Wind felt on face; leaves rustle; [[Weather vane|wind vane]] moved by wind
| [[File:beaufort scale 2.jpg|120px]]
|
|-
!style="background-color: #96F7B4; font-size: large;" id="Beaufort_Number_3"| 3
| Gentle breeze
| 7–10&nbsp;knots<br>8–12&nbsp;mph<br>12–19&nbsp;km/h<br>3.4–5.4&nbsp;m/s
| 2–4&nbsp;ft<br>0.6–1.2&nbsp;m
| Large wavelets; crests begin to break; [[sea foam|foam]] of glassy appearance; perhaps scattered white horses
| Leaves and small twigs in constant motion; light flags extended
| [[File:beaufort scale 3.jpg|120px]]
|
|-
!style="background-color: #6FF46F; font-size: large;" id="Beaufort_Number_4"| 4
| Moderate breeze
| 11–16&nbsp;knots<br>13–18&nbsp;mph<br>20–28&nbsp;km/h<br>5.5–7.9&nbsp;m/s
| 3.5–6&nbsp;ft<br>1–2&nbsp;m
| Small waves becoming longer; fairly frequent white horses
| Raises dust and loose paper; small branches moved
| [[File:beaufort scale 4.jpg|120px]]
|
|-
!style="background-color: #73ED12; font-size: large;" id="Beaufort_Number_5"| 5
| Fresh breeze
| 17–21&nbsp;knots<br>19–24&nbsp;mph<br>29–38&nbsp;km/h<br>8–10.7&nbsp;m/s
| 6–10&nbsp;ft<br>2–3&nbsp;m
| Moderate waves taking a more pronounced long form; many white horses are formed; chance of some [[sea spray|spray]]
| Small trees in leaf begin to sway; crested wavelets form on inland waters
| [[File:beaufort scale 5.jpg|120px]]
|
|-
!style="background-color: #A4ED12; font-size: large;" id="Beaufort_Number_6"| 6
| Strong breeze
| 22–27&nbsp;knots<br>25–31&nbsp;mph<br>39–49&nbsp;km/h<br>10.8–13.8&nbsp;m/s
| 9–13&nbsp;ft<br>3–4&nbsp;m
| Large waves begin to form; the white foam crests are more extensive everywhere; probably some spray
| Large branches in motion; whistling heard in telegraph wires; umbrellas used with difficulty
| [[File:beaufort scale 6.jpg|120px]]
| [[File:Gale pennant.svg|100px]]
|-
!style="background-color: #DAED12; font-size: large;" id="Beaufort_Number_7"| 7
| Moderate gale,<br />near gale
| 28–33&nbsp;knots<br>32–38&nbsp;mph<br>50–61&nbsp;km/h<br>13.9–17.1&nbsp;m/s
| 13–19&nbsp;ft<br>4–5.5&nbsp;m
| Sea heaps up and white foam from breaking waves begins to be blown in streaks along the direction of the wind; [[spindrift]] begins to be seen
| Whole trees in motion; inconvenience felt when walking against the wind
| [[File:beaufort scale 7.jpg|120px]]
| [[File:Gale pennant.svg|100px]]
|-
!style="background-color: #EDC212; font-size: large;" id="Beaufort_Number_8"| 8
| [[Gale]],<br />fresh gale
| 34–40&nbsp;knots<br>39–46&nbsp;mph<br>62–74&nbsp;km/h<br>17.2–20.7&nbsp;m/s
| 18–25&nbsp;ft<br>5.5–7.5&nbsp;m
| Moderately high waves of greater length; edges of crests break into spindrift; foam is blown in well-marked streaks along the direction of the wind
| Twigs break off trees; generally impedes progress
| [[File:beaufort scale 8.jpg|120px]]
| [[File:Gale pennant.svg|100px]]<br>[[File:Gale pennant.svg|100px]]
|-
!style="background-color: #ED8F12; font-size: large;" id="Beaufort_Number_9"| 9
| Strong/severe gale
| 41–47&nbsp;knots<br>47–54&nbsp;mph<br>75–88&nbsp;km/h<br>20.8–24.4&nbsp;m/s
| 23–32&nbsp;ft<br>7–10&nbsp;m
| High waves; dense streaks of foam along the direction of the wind; sea begins to roll; spray affects visibility
| Slight structural damage ([[Chimney|chimney pot]]s and [[Roof tiles|slate]]s removed)
| [[File:beaufort scale 9.jpg|120px]]
| [[File:Gale pennant.svg|100px]]<br>[[File:Gale pennant.svg|100px]]
|- id=Storm-force
!style="background-color: #ED6312; font-size: large;" id="Beaufort_Number_10"| 10
| [[Storm]],<ref name="forcenamenote">The names "storm" and "hurricane" on the Beaufort scale refer only to wind strength, and do not necessarily mean that other severe weather (for instance, a [[thunderstorm]] or [[tropical cyclone]]) is present. To avoid confusion, strong wind warnings will often speak of e.g. "hurricane-force winds".</ref><br />whole gale
| 48–55&nbsp;knots<br>55–63&nbsp;mph<br>89–102&nbsp;km/h<br>24.5–28.4&nbsp;m/s
| 29–41&nbsp;ft<br>9–12.5&nbsp;m
| Very high waves with long overhanging crests; resulting foam in great patches is blown in dense white streaks along the direction of the wind; on the whole the surface of the sea takes on a white appearance; rolling of the sea becomes heavy; visibility affected
| Seldom experienced inland; trees uprooted; considerable structural damage
| [[File:beaufort scale 10.jpg|120px]]
| [[File:Storm warning.svg|100px]]
|-
!style="background-color: #ED2912; font-size: large;" id="Beaufort_Number_11"| 11
| Violent storm
| 56–63&nbsp;knots<br>64–72&nbsp;mph<br>103–117&nbsp;km/h<br>28.5–32.6&nbsp;m/s
| 37–52&nbsp;ft<br>11.5–16&nbsp;m
| Exceptionally high waves; small- and medium-sized ships might be for a long time lost to view behind the waves; sea is covered with long white patches of foam; everywhere the edges of the wave crests are blown into foam; visibility affected
| Very rarely experienced; accompanied by widespread damage
| [[File:beaufort scale 11.jpg|120px]]
| [[File:Storm warning.svg|100px]]
|- id="Hurricane force"
!style="background-color: #D5102D; font-size: large;" id="Beaufort_Number_12"| 12
| [[Hurricane]]-force<ref name="forcenamenote"/>
| ≥ 64&nbsp;knots<br>≥ 73&nbsp;mph<br>≥ 118&nbsp;km/h<br>≥ 32.7&nbsp;m/s
| ≥ 46&nbsp;ft<br>≥ 14&nbsp;m
| The air is filled with foam and spray; sea is completely white with driving spray; visibility very seriously affected
| Devastation
| [[File:beaufort scale 12.jpg|120px]]
| [[File:Storm warning.svg|100px]]{{pb}}[[File:Storm warning.svg|100px]]
|}

The Beaufort scale is neither an exact nor an objective scale; it was based on visual and subjective observation of a ship and of the sea. The corresponding integral wind speeds were determined later, but conversions have not been made official.

===Extended scale===
The Beaufort scale was extended in 1946 when forces 13 to 17 were added.<ref name="Saucier-1955" /> However, forces 13 to 17 were intended to apply only to special cases, such as [[tropical cyclone]]s. Nowadays, the extended scale is used in Taiwan,<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024-08-14 |title=FAQ for Marine: 2. Beaufort Wind Scale Table? |url=https://www.cwa.gov.tw/V8/E/K/Encyclopedia/sea/wave_list.html#wave-02 |access-date=2024-09-07 |website=[[Central Weather Administration]] |language=English}}</ref> mainland China<ref>{{Cite web |title=天气预报基本术语 |trans-title=Basic terminology for weather forecast |url=https://www.cma.gov.cn/zfxxgk/gknr/flfgbz/bz/202209/P020220921691655269159.pdf |access-date=2024-09-07 |website=[[China Meteorological Administration]] |page=10 |language=Chinese}}</ref> and Vietnam,<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Quyết định số 18/2021/QĐ-TTg của Thủ tướng Chính phủ: Quy định về dự báo, cảnh báo, truyền tin thiên tai và cấp độ rủi ro thiên tai |trans-title=Decision No. 18/2021/QĐ-TTg of the Prime Minister: Regulations on forecasting, warning, communication of natural disaster and natural disaster risk levels |url=https://vanban.chinhphu.vn/?pageid=27160&docid=203152 |access-date=2024-09-07 |website=Vietnam Government Portal |page=60 |language=vi}}</ref> which are often affected by [[typhoon]]s. Internationally, the [[World Meteorological Organization]] Manual on Marine Meteorological Services (2012 edition) defined the Beaufort Scale only up to force 12 and there was no recommendation on the use of the extended scale.<ref>{{Cite book |url=http://library.wmo.int/pmb_ged/wmo_558_en-v1.pdf |year=2012 |title=Manual on Marine Meteorological Services: Volume I – Global Aspect |publisher=[[World Meteorological Organization]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170505114755/https://library.wmo.int/pmb_ged/wmo_558_en-v1.pdf |archive-date=5 May 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|+Extended Beaufort scale<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.noaa.gov/jetstream/ocean/waves/jetstream-max-wind-and-sea-scales |title=JetStream Max: Wind and Sea Scales |publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] |access-date = 10 December 2023}}</ref>
|-
! Beaufort<br />number !! Wind speed
|-
!style="background-color: #D5102D; font-size: large;" id="Beaufort_Number_13"| 13
| 72–80&nbsp;knots<br>83–92&nbsp;mph<br>133–148&nbsp;km/h
|-
!style="background-color: #D5102D; font-size: large;" id="Beaufort_Number_14"| 14
| 81–89&nbsp;knots<br>93–103&nbsp;mph<br>149–165&nbsp;km/h
|-
!style="background-color: #D5102D; font-size: large;" id="Beaufort_Number_15"| 15
| 90–99&nbsp;knots<br>104–114&nbsp;mph<br>166–183&nbsp;km/h
|-
!style="background-color: #D5102D; font-size: large;" id="Beaufort_Number_16"| 16
| 100–108&nbsp;knots<br>115–125&nbsp;mph<br>184–200&nbsp;km/h
|-
!style="background-color: #D5102D; font-size: large;" id="Beaufort_Number_17"| 17
| >&nbsp;108&nbsp;knots<br>&nbsp;125&nbsp;mph<br>&nbsp;200&nbsp;km/h
|}