Wind Speed Converter
Convert between mph, km/h, knots, m/s, and ft/s instantly. See wind speeds on the Beaufort scale with descriptions of conditions at sea and on land.
Large waves, white foam crests
Large branches in motion, umbrellas difficult
Common Wind Speed References
Beaufort Wind Scale
| Force | Description | mph | knots | km/h | m/s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Calm | < 1 | < 1 | < 2 | < 0.5 |
| 1 | Light Air | 1-3 | 1-3 | 2-5 | 0.5-1.5 |
| 2 | Light Breeze | 4-7 | 4-6 | 6-11 | 1.6-3.3 |
| 3 | Gentle Breeze | 8-12 | 7-10 | 12-19 | 3.4-5.4 |
| 4 | Moderate Breeze | 13-18 | 11-16 | 20-28 | 5.5-7.9 |
| 5 | Fresh Breeze | 19-24 | 17-21 | 29-38 | 8.0-10.7 |
| 6 | Strong Breeze | 25-31 | 22-27 | 39-49 | 10.8-13.8 |
| 7 | Near Gale | 32-38 | 28-33 | 50-61 | 13.9-17.1 |
| 8 | Gale | 39-46 | 34-40 | 62-74 | 17.2-20.7 |
| 9 | Strong Gale | 47-54 | 41-47 | 75-88 | 20.8-24.4 |
| 10 | Storm | 55-63 | 48-55 | 89-102 | 24.5-28.4 |
| 11 | Violent Storm | 64-72 | 56-63 | 103-117 | 28.5-32.6 |
| 12 | Hurricane | 73+ | 64+ | 118+ | 32.7+ |
Understanding Wind Speed Units
Knots
The standard unit for aviation and maritime use. One knot equals one nautical mile per hour, which is about 1.15 mph or 1.85 km/h.
Meters per Second
The SI unit for speed, used in scientific contexts and weather services in many countries. Easy to convert to km/h (multiply by 3.6).
Miles per Hour
Common in the US and UK for weather reports. Hurricane categories are often described in mph (Cat 1 starts at 74 mph).
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