A Gale Has a Precise Definition at Sea
A gale is a very strong wind. The Beaufort scale fixes exactly how strong it must be.
A gale is a very strong wind. At sea the word is exact rather than vague: on the Beaufort scale a gale is force 8, 34 to 40 knots, and the scale was designed by Francis Beaufort in 1805 to be read from observable effects rather than instruments — force 8 was originally described by what sail a well-conditioned frigate could carry. Later versions describe the sea state and the effect on land, where force 8 breaks twigs from trees.
- A very strong wind. *A force 8 gale.*
- A burst. *Gales of laughter.*
- Beaufort scale — where it is defined. *The Beaufort scale.*
- Gale warning. *A gale warning.*
- Old Norse — possibly *gala*, to sing. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | gale | A gale. |
| Plural | gales | Gales. |
| Compound | gale warning | A gale warning. |
| Related | storm | A storm. |
| Scale | force 8 | Force 8. |
- A gale battered the coast.Weather.
- Gales of laughter followed.Figurative.
- Force 8 is 34 to 40 knots.Definition.
The top of the Beaufort scale
- Force 7 — near gale, 28 to 33 knots
- Force 8 — gale, 34 to 40 knots
- Force 9 — strong gale
- Force 10 — storm
- Force 12 — hurricane force, 64 knots and above
Of uncertain origin, possibly from Old Norse *gala*, to sing or howl, recorded from the 1500s.
How strong is a gale?
Force 8 on the Beaufort scale, between 34 and 40 knots. On land it breaks twigs from trees.
Why was the Beaufort scale designed that way?
So a sailor could judge wind strength from observable effects, originally the sail a frigate could carry, without instruments.