Gale

This article is about the wind. For other uses, see Gale (disambiguation).

After a Gale – Wreckers by James Hamilton

Gale warning flag

A gale is a very strong wind. There are conflicting definitions of how strong a wind must be to be considered a gale. The U.S. National Weather Service defines a gale as 34–47 knots (63–87 km/h, 17.5–24.2 m/s or 39–54 miles/hour) of sustained surface winds.^[1] Forecasters typically issue gale warnings when winds of this strength are expected.

Other sources use minima as low as 28 knots (52 km/h, 32 mph) and maxima as high as 90 knots (170 km/h, 100 mph). Through 1986, the National Hurricane Center used the term gale to refer to winds of tropical force for coastal areas, between 33 knots (61 km/h, 38 mph) and 63 knots (117 km/h, 72 mph). The 90-knot (170 km/h) definition is very non-standard. A common alternative definition of the maximum is 55 knots (102 km/h, 63 mph).^[2]

The most common way of measuring winds is with the Beaufort scale,^[3] which defines a gale as wind from 50 to 102 km/h. It is an empirical measure for describing wind speed based mainly on observed sea conditions. Its full name is the Beaufort Wind Force Scale.

On the Beaufort Wind Scale, a gale is classified as: 7: Moderate Gale (32–38 miles per hour), 8: Fresh Gale (39-46 mph), 9: Strong Gale (47-54 mph) and 10: Storm/Whole Gale (55-63 mph). A gale is a type of Wind Description preceded by 0: Calm, 1: Light Air, 2: Light Breeze, 3: Gentle Breeze, 4: Moderate Breeze, 5: Fresh Breeze, 6: Strong Breeze and succeeded by 11: Violent Storm and 12: Hurricane on a Beaufort Wind Scale. There is a unique Beaufort Scale number and a unique Arrow Indication for each type of Wind Description mentioned above.

The word gale is derived from the older gail, but its origin is uncertain.^[4]

References

↑ National Weather Service Glossary, s.v. "gale".
↑ Glossary of Meteorological Terms, NovaLynx Corporation.
↑ see article for more on the traditional nautical use of the word "gale"
↑ "Online Etymology Dictionary". Etymonline.com. Retrieved 2014-03-23.

Severe weather terminology in the United States

Severe
storms

Thunderstorm	Advisory Watch PDS Watch Warning

Tornado	Watch PDS Watch Warning PDS Warning Emergency

Marine Thunderstorm	Special marine warning

Winter
weather

Advisories	Winter Weather Advisory

Winter storm	Watch Warning

Blizzard/Blowing Snow	Blowing Snow advisory Blizzard watch Blizzard warning

Heavy snow	Warning

Lake-effect snow	Advisory Watch Warning

Ice	Freezing rain advisory Ice storm warning

Tropical
Cyclones

Tropical storms	Watch Warning

Hurricanes	Watch Warning

Inland Advisories	Inland Tropical Storm Watch Inland Tropical Storm Warning Inland Hurricane Watch Inland Hurricane Warning

Hurricane Local Statement

Flood

Flood	Watch Warning

Flash flood	Watch PDS Watch Warning Emergency

Coastal flood	Advisory Watch Warning

Lakeshore flood	Advisory Watch Warning Seiche Warning

River flood	Advisory Watch Warning

Urban and small stream flood	Advisory

Apparent
temperature

Heat index	Heat advisory Excessive heat watch Excessive heat warning

Wind chill	Advisory Watch Warning PDS Warning

Extreme cold	Watch Warning

Freeze	Watch Warning Hard Freeze Warning Frost Advisory

Maritime
and
coastal
weather

Marine Winds	Small craft advisory Brisk wind advisory Lake Wind Advisory

Gale	Watch Warning

Storm	Watch Warning

Hurricane Force Wind	Watch Warning

Hazardous Seas	Watch Warning

Freezing Spray	Freezing spray advisory Heavy freezing spray watch Heavy freezing spray warning

High Surf	Advisory Warning

Wind

Advisory-Force Winds	Wind Advisory

Gale-Force Winds	High wind watch High wind warning

Major Hurricane-Force Winds	Extreme wind warning

Airborne
particulates

Dust/sand	Blowing Dust Advisory Dust Storm Warning

Fog/Smoke	Dense Fog Advisory Dense Smoke Advisory

Ash	Ashfall Advisory

Air pollution	Air Stagnation Advisory

Fire

Aviation

Center Weather Advisory
SIGMET
Volcanic Ash Advisory

Weather scales
used by NWS

Beaufort (wind)
Enhanced Fujita (tornadoes)
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale (tropical cyclones)

Other

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