Beaufort Wind Scale

Like a mirrorLike a mirror

Ripples like scales

Small wavelets, glassy crests, not breaking

Large wavelets, crests beginning to break, glassy foam

Small waves, becoming longer, fairly frequent white horses Slight

Moderate waves, more pronounced long form, many white horses, possibly some spray

Large waves begin to form, white crests more extensive everywhere. Possibly some spray

Sea heaps up with white foam from breaking waves

Moderately high waves of greater length, much foam

High waves, crests of waves start to topple and roll over, dense streaks of foam along the direction of wind

Very high waves, overhanging crests, resulting foam is blown in dense white patches with the wind, sea surface takes on a whiter look.

Exceptionally high waves, sea covered with long white patches of foam blown in direction of wind. All wave crests are blown into froth.

Air is filled with spray and foam, sea is completely white with driving spray. Visibility is seriously affected.