You can determine how fast the wind is blowing by using the chart below.
This chart provides useful information when you are out on the trail or observing the wind’s impact from indoors. Use it in addition to building your own anemometer and read How to Deal With High Winds: Common Sense Tips for additional information on the wind’s power.
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Speed of Moving Air
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Name
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What We Can See
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0 mph (0 km/h)
|
Calm
|
Smoke rises
|
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1-3 mph (1-5
km/h) |
Light air
|
Smoke drifts
|
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4-7 mph (6-11 km/h)
|
Light breeze
|
Leaves rustle
|
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8-12 mph (12-19
km/h)
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Gentle breeze
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Leaves and twigs
|
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13-18 mph (20-29 km/h)
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Moderate breeze
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Branches move
|
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19-24 mph (30-39 km/h)
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Fresh breeze
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Saplings sway/white caps on water
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25-31 mph (40-50 km/h)
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Strong breeze
|
Large branches move
|
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32-38 mph (51-61 km/h)
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Moderate gale
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Entire trees sway
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39-46 mph (62-74 km/h)
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Fresh gale
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Twigs break/ walking is a challenge
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47-54 mph (75-87 km/h)
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Strong gale
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Branches, street signs blow down
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55-63 mph (88-102 km/h)
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Full gale
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Trees uprooted
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64-72 mph (103-121 km/h)
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Storm force
|
Structures damaged
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73+ mph (122+ km/h)
|
Hurricane force
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Widespread devastation
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