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Definition of: Beaufort scale
(bō′fərt) Meteorol.
A scale of wind velocities, ranging from 0 (calm) to 12 (hurricane). The wind velocity is measured by its pressure on a disk one square foot in area at a height of 33 feet in the open. See table below for scale as used by the U.S. Weather Bureau. [after Sir Francis Beaufort, 1774–1857, British admiral]
BEAUFORT SCALE
| Pressure | Speed | ||
| Code | lbs. Per | miles per | |
| No. | Description | sq.ft. | hour. |
| *Intermediate between breeze and gale. | |||
| 0 | Calm | 0. | Less than 1 |
| 1 | Light air | .01 | 1–3 |
| 2 | Light breeze | .08 | 4–7 |
| 3 | Gentle breeze | .28 | 8–12 |
| 4 | Moderate breeze | .67 | 13–18 |
| 5 | Fresh breeze | 1.31 | 19–24 |
| 6 | Strong breeze | 2.3 | 25–31 |
| 7 | Footnote Moderate gale | 3.6 | 32–38 |
| 8 | Fresh gale | 5.4 | 39–46 |
| 9 | Strong gale | 7.7 | 47–54 |
| 10 | Whole gale | 10.5 | 55–63 |
| 11 | Storm | 14. | 64–75 |
| 12 | Hurricane | Above 17 | Above 75 |
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