wind scale

American  

[wind] / wɪnd /

noun

1. a numerical scale, as the Beaufort scale, for designating relative wind intensities.

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wind scale British  

/ wɪnd /

noun

1. a numerical scale of wind force, such as the Beaufort scale

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Etymology

Origin of wind scale

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

Part of the communication issues may be down to how hurricanes are classified, using the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale.

From BBC • Aug. 29, 2025

The commonly used Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale was designed as a public communication tool to help people easily understand the relative risk of damage from oncoming storms in the 1970s.

From Salon • Feb. 6, 2024

Otis reached the shore as a Category 5 - the strongest level on the five-step Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale - before quickly weakening to a Category 4 storm.

From Reuters • Oct. 26, 2023

Noru was producing maximum sustained winds of 143 miles per hour on Tuesday evening, making it the equivalent of a Category 4 storm on the wind scale that is used to describe Atlantic hurricanes.

From New York Times • Sep. 27, 2022

The wind scale used by meteorologists tops out at Category 5, representing storms with sustained winds of 157 mph or more.

From Scientific American • May 25, 2022