4TFingers Winds Report and Prediction - at Coolangatta nearly on the Tweed Coast of NSW

(These observations have not been quality controlled.
Wind observations are a 10-minute average at the height of 10 metres. The wind gust is measured over 3 seconds.)

Note: Chart Updates available at around about quarter past the hour

Wednesday 10th of March 2010 10:24:10 AM the Current and Previous Weather Readings for Coolangatta Temperature, Winds and Humidity Image - Updated Hourly

BOM Wind Speeds

Summary of New BOM wind warnings

Wind warning

Wind range

Strong wind

26 to 33 knots

48.1 - 61.05km/h

Gale

34 to 47 knots

62.9 - 86.95km/h

Storm force

48 to 63 knots

88.8 - 116.55km/h

Hurricane force

64 knots or more

above 118.4km/h

One knot = one nautical mile per hour = 1.85 kilometres per hour

Onshore Wind Speeds

Speed (km/hr)	Description	Effect on the Sea
<1	Calm	Oil Slick
1-5	Light Air	Super Glassy
6-11	Light Breeze	Glassy
12-19	Gentle Breeze	Crumbly to small waves
20-28	Moderate Breeze	Choppy to small waves
29-38	Fresh Breeze	Choppy slop many whitecaps
39-49	Strong Breeze	Large cross-chop waves, many whitecaps
50-61	Near Gale	Large wind waves all whitecaps
62-74	Fresh gale	High waves, foam streaks
75-88	Stong gale	High waves, foam streaks
89-102	Whole gale	Very high waves, rolling sea
103-117	Storm	Very high waves, rolling sea
117	Tropical Cyclone	Sea white with spray and foam

The Beaufort wind speed scale:

No.	Wind speed	Gust speed	Meteorological classification	Terms used in general forecast	Wind effect on land
0	<1 knot		calm	calm	Smoke rises vertically
1	1 – 3		light air	light winds	Smoke drifts
2	4 – 6		light breeze	light winds	Leaves rustle, water ripples; '15 knot' dry windsock tail drooping 45° or so
3	7 – 10		gentle breeze	light winds	Wind felt, leaves in constant motion, smooth wavelets form on farm dams and small lakes, smoke rises at an angle above 30°; '15 knot' dry windsock tail 15° or so below horizontal
4	11 – 16		moderate breeze	moderate wind	Small branches move, dust blown into air, crested wavelets form
5	17 – 21		fresh breeze	fresh wind	Small trees sway, smoke from small fires blown horizontally; '15 knot' dry windsock horizontal
6	22 – 27		strong breeze	strong wind	Large branches sway, whistling in wires
7	28 – 33		near gale	strong wind	Whole trees in motion
8	34 – 40	43 - 51	fresh gale	gale wind	Twigs break off, difficulty in walking
9	41 – 47	52 - 60	strong gale	severe gale	Some building damage
10	48 – 56	61 - 68	whole gale	storm	Trees down
11	57 – 62	69 - 77	storm	violent storm	Widespread damage
12	63 +	78 +	tropical cyclone	tropical cyclone	Severe extensive damage

Wind effect at sea and large lakes Beaufort scale number:

0 – Sea is mirror-like
1 – Ripples present but without foam crests
2 – Small wavelets with glassy appearance do not break
3 – Large wavelets, crests begin to break with scattered white horses
4 – Small waves becoming longer, fairly frequent white horses
5 – Moderate waves, many white horses with chance of spray
6 – Large waves are forming with extensive white foam crests,spray probable
7 – The sea heaps up, white foam from breaking waves is blown in streaks
8 – The edges of crests break into spindrift with well marked foam streak lines
9 – High waves with tumbling crests and spray, dense foam streaks
10 – Very high waves with overhanging crests, surface appearance white, visibility affected
11 – Chaotic sea, large parts of waves blown into spume with foam everywhere
12 – Air filled with foam and spray, visibility severely impaired

BOM Precis

BOM Wind Speeds

Onshore Wind Speeds

Speed (km/hr)

Description

Effect on the Sea

The Beaufort wind speed scale: