Outdoors

Weekly Hack: Wind speed cheat sheet

By Rainer Fuhrmann/Shutterstock

Windy enough for you? Our weather forecasts include the wind speed on days when it’s at least 20 km/h. But what does it mean? When is the wind annoying, dangerous, or downright deadly? Here’s a cheat sheet:

10 to 19 km/h Weather wanes will move, leaves will rustle, and you’ll feel a breeze on your face. Situation normal.

20 to 29 km/h Strong enough to straighten flying flags and shake small tree branches. Expect dust and loose paper garbage to fly around in the air.

30 to 39 km/h Small trees start to sway.

40 to 50 km/h Strong enough to break umbrellas and move large tree branches.

51 to 62 km/h Walking will be tough. Or incredibly easy, if you’re going in the same direction as the wind.

63 to 74 km/h Strong enough to send large, loose objects (garbage cans, patio furniture) flying. Tree limbs can break and driving gets white-knuckle—cars can veer off the road.

By 75 km/h, the wind is strong enough to damage structures. By 90 km/h it can uproot entire trees. And 118 km/h wind is considered hurricane force…but happily it doesn’t get that windy every day.

 

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