What is the Beaufort scale?
A 0–12 scale that estimates wind speed from observed effects on land and sea, helping describe how windy it feels without a speedometer.
How are Beaufort numbers determined?
They are assigned from observed effects like smoke direction, tree movement, and wave height; each number corresponds to typical wind ranges and visible impacts.
What is a wind gust?
A gust is a brief, sharp increase in wind speed lasting a few seconds, higher than the surrounding sustained wind.
How do meteorologists report wind in forecasts?
They note sustained wind (average over a period, usually 1 minute) and occasional gusts (peak values), with the Beaufort scale describing severity.