Hobbies And Interests
Windy
When the weather forecaster announces that it is "windy" today, that means something quite precise. According to the Beaufort Scale, which measures wind speed, the term defines a wind exceeding 25 mph, or 22 to 27 knots. Winds measuring less than this are light, moderate and fresh. According to meteorologists, you'll know it is "windy" when you can't get an umbrella up and the large tree branches are moving.
Gales and Storms
A gale travels at 34 to 47 knots, or 39 to 54 mph. A light gale breaks twigs off trees and makes walking difficult, whereas a strong gale will take tiles off a roof. Storm winds range from 48 to 63 knots, or 55 to 72 mph, and have the potential to cause serious destruction including structural damage to homes. Winds of this strength can also uproot trees, but are, thankfully, infrequent in most places. In marine forecasts, a storm warning indicates waves reaching heights of 29 to 41 feet--high enough to completely obscure smaller vessels from view.
Hurricanes
A hurricane is a wind with a constant speed of over 64 knots or 74 miles per hour, and some hurricanes travel at 160 mph. As many living in hurricane-prone areas of the world are aware, these storms can bring severe destruction and loss of life. Warm oceans of over 26.5 celsius or 81 fahrenheit, promote the formation of hurricanes. Fortunately, according to the department of Homeland Security, only six hurricanes form annually from tropical storms.
Gusts and Squalls
When a meteorologists talks about "gusts" of wind, that means there is a tendency for wind speed to suddenly pick up, just a few seconds. A "squall" on the other hand, means that wind speed also picks up unexpectedly, but lasts for several minutes. Other terms used to describe wind are "shift," which means an abrupt change in speed or direction, while the term to describe a gradual change in speed or direction is "tending."