How fast air is moving, measured in km/h, m/s or knots. Stronger winds increase cooling and wave height.
basicWhat is Wind Speed?
Wind speed is measured by anemometers at 10 metres above ground (WMO standard). The Beaufort scale classifies wind from calm (0) to hurricane force (12). In weather forecasts, wind is usually reported as sustained speed with separate gust speeds.
Key points
- How fast air is moving, measured in km/h, m/s or knots. Stronger winds increase cooling and wave height.
- Category: basic
Related terms
See also: wind-speed is connected to other weather concepts. Browse the full glossary for related definitions.