The wind speed is the rate at which air moves from high to low pressure, typically caused by temperature differences. It is commonly measured using an anemometer and reported in meters per second (m/s), miles per hour (mph), kilometers per hour (km/h), or knots (kn)
. Wind speed varies widely depending on atmospheric conditions and is influenced by factors such as the pressure gradient, Rossby waves, jet streams, and local weather phenomena like hurricanes or cyclones
. For reference, wind speeds can be categorized by the Beaufort scale, which relates wind speed to observed effects on land or sea. For example:
- Light breeze: 1-3 mph (0.4-1.3 m/s)
- Strong breeze: 25-31 mph (11-13.8 m/s), where branches move continuously and umbrellas are difficult to use
- Near gale: 32-38 mph (14.3-16 m/s) and above, causing whole trees to move and potential damage
If you want the current wind speed for a specific location, real-time wind maps and forecasts are available from services like Windfinder or Zoom Earth
