I used to sail and windsurf and our bible was the Beaufort scale. My nightmare was trying to progress a 50’ sailing craft into the wind blowing down the Thames. Even with the engine full on we couldn’t progress. We had but one hour’s notice a Hurricane was developing.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaufort_scaleForce Wind
(Knots) WMO
Classification Appearance of Wind Effects
On the Water On Land
0 Less than 1 Calm Sea surface smooth and mirror-like Calm, smoke rises vertically
1 1-3 Light Air Scaly ripples, no foam crests Smoke drift indicates wind direction, still wind vanes
2 4-6 Light Breeze Small wavelets, crests glassy, no breaking Wind felt on face, leaves rustle, vanes begin to move
3 7-10 Gentle Breeze Large wavelets, crests begin to break, scattered whitecaps Leaves and small twigs constantly moving, light flags extended
4 11-16 Moderate Breeze Small waves 1-4 ft. becoming longer, numerous whitecaps Dust, leaves, and loose paper lifted, small tree branches move
5 17-21 Fresh Breeze Moderate waves 4-8 ft taking longer form, many whitecaps, some spray Small trees in leaf begin to sway
6 22-27 Strong Breeze Larger waves 8-13 ft, whitecaps common, more spray Larger tree branches moving, whistling in wires
7 28-33 Near Gale Sea heaps up, waves 13-19 ft, white foam streaks off breakers Whole trees moving, resistance felt walking against wind
8 34-40 Gale Moderately high (18-25 ft) waves of greater length, edges of crests begin to break into spindrift, foam blown in streaks Twigs breaking off trees, generally impedes progress
9 41-47 Strong Gale High waves (23-32 ft), sea begins to roll, dense streaks of foam, spray may reduce visibility Slight structural damage occurs, slate blows off roofs
10 48-55 Storm Very high waves (29-41 ft) with overhanging crests, sea white with densely blown foam, heavy rolling, lowered visibility Seldom experienced on land, trees broken or uprooted, "considerable structural damage"
11 56-63 Violent Storm Exceptionally high (37-52 ft) waves, foam patches cover sea, visibility more reduced
12 64+ Hurricane Air filled with foam, waves over 45 ft, sea completely white with driving spray, visibility greatly reduced
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So let’s rewrite these for golfers to observe.
1 Imperceptible to the man on the fairway unless there’s a convenient chimney smoke from the clubhouse.
2 Can just tell wind direction when you toss a few pieces of grass up. Caddies at St Andrews now offer you two more clubs than you planned to use.
3 Clubhouse flag shows some life. Long grass moves. You partner lights up a stinking stogie.
4 Long rough starts to lie in the winds direction. Time you start to add a club (a bit late really). Take care which direction you choose to stand when nature calls.
5 This is the reason why old guys wear plus fours and socks, Flares have no place on a golf course.
6 Stand bag refuses to live up to its name. Ears are getting such a battering you can’t hear yourself think – this is the reason why Scots wear ski hats in August!
7 Bag is now rolling away and heading for clubhouse (if you’re lucky) if you are sensible you’ll follow it.
8 a wedge hit downwind gets no more than 20’ high. This is now less a game than some experimental time. GIVE UP
9 Time to head for home before the roads get blocked.
10 Even if you do stay on the course no one at GCA will believe you so what’s the point!
11 Liar
12 Big liar.