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It is always useful to check the wind before setting out
to go with the Kites. It saves not being able to get the
kite up, or being blown away.....
This useful website is worth looking at, it gives the UK
wind direction, speed etc on a daily basis. Check it out
before you leave home....
http://www.xcweather.co.uk/
The average beginner ideally wants a 10-18 mph
wind to learn to fly on land, of course this varies with the
kite. We find anything over 20 mph to much for flying our
5m Wipika LTR, although we'd survive in a buggy with that
wind.
Additionally a wind in excess of 20mph is murder
at Braunton Burrows, the sand whips around your face behind
your sunglasses, feels like pin pricks in your neck, and gets
into every nook and cranny to be carried home and desposited
in the shower. If you do insist on sandboarding in these winds
then wear goggles, and head gear. (Shorts look very becoming
on ones head in an absolute emergency)
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WIND SPEED TABLE |
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Wind Speed |
Wind Speed Indicators |
|
Force |
MPH |
Knots |
KPH |
Description |
At Sea |
On Land |
| 0 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
Calm |
Smooth as Glass |
Calm, smoke rises vertically |
| 1 |
1-3 |
1-3 |
1-5 |
Light Air |
Ripples with no appearance of scales, no
foam crests |
Smoke drift indicates wind direction, vanes
do not move |
| 2 |
4-7 |
4-6 |
6-11 |
Light Breeze |
Small wavelets, crests of glassy appearance |
Wind felt on face, leaves rustle, vanes
begin to move |
| 3 |
8-12 |
7-10 |
12-19 |
Gentle Wind |
Large wavelets, crests begin to break, scattered
whitecaps |
Leaves and small twigs in motion, light
flags extended |
| 4 |
13-18 |
11-16 |
20-29 |
Moderate Wind |
1-4ft waves, numerous whitecaps |
Leaves and loose paper raised up, flags
flap, small branches move |
| 5 |
19-24 |
17-21 |
30-38 |
Fresh Wind |
4-8 ft waves, many whitecaps, some spray |
Small trees begin to sway, flags flap and
ripple |
| 6 |
25-31 |
22-27 |
39-50 |
Strong Wind |
8-13ft waves, foaming whitecaps everywhere,
more spray |
Large branches in motion, whistling heard
in wires |
| 7 |
32-38 |
28-33 |
51-61 |
Near Gale |
13-20ft waves, white foam blown in streaks |
Whole trees in motion, resistance felt in
walking against wind |
| 8 |
39-46 |
34-40 |
62-74 |
Gale |
13-20ft waves, edge of crests beginning
to break, foam in streaks |
Whole trees in motion, resistance felt in
walking against wind |
| 9 |
47-54 |
41-47 |
75-86 |
Strong Gale |
20ft waves, sea begins to roll, dense streaks
of foam |
Slight structural damage occurs, shingles
blown from roofs |
| 10 |
55-63 |
48-55 |
87-101 |
Storm |
20-30ft waves, white curning sea, rolling
is heavy, reduced visibility |
Tree broken/uprooted, considerable structural
damage occurs |
