There are lots of reports surfacing on Social Media that include pictures of sports hoisting up a fish for the camera that make claims of success in extremely high winds. A lot of the time, its just not rooted in fact. Thats not to say the guide or angler making the post is overtly being deceptive in their claims of success in less than desirable conditions, more often than not, its simply an inability to accurately estimate wind speeds on the water.
The next time you are on the water, you might find the following chart to be of use as an aid to better estimate the conditions you’re experiencing. Make note of your estimate and the time and check it against the hourly wind data at the closest airport weather station on the National Weather Service’s website. You’ll be surprised at first, but over time you’ll become very accurate.
Guide To Estimating Wind Speed Over Land & Water
Terms used by US Weather Service |
Velocity (mph) | Estimating Velocities on land |
Estimating Velocities on Sea |
|
Calm | less than 1 | Smoke rises vertically | Sea like a mirror | Check your glassy water technique before water flying under these conditions |
Light air | 1 – 3 | Smoke drifts; wind vanes unmoved |
Ripples with the appearance of scales are formed but without foam crests |
|
Light breeze | 4 – 7 | Wind felt on face; leaves rustle; ordinary wind vane moves by wind |
Small wavelets, still short but more pronounced; crests have a glassy appearance and do not break Large wavelets; crests |
|
Gentle Breeze | 8 – 12 | Leaves and small twigs in constant motion; wind extends light flag |
Large wavelets; crests begin to break. Foam of glassy appearance, perhaps scattered whitecaps |
Ideal water flying characteristics in protected water |
Moderate Breeze | 13 – 18 | Dust and loose paper raised; small branches are moved |
Small waves, becoming longer; fairly frequent whitecaps |
|
Fresh Breeze | 19 – 24 | Small trees in leaf begin to sway; crested wavelets form in inland water |
Moderate waves; taking a more pronounced long form; many whitecaps are formed, chance of some spray |
This is considered rough water for seaplanes and small amphibians, especially in open water |
Strong Breeze | 25 – 31 | Large branches in motion; whistling heard in telegraph wires; umbrellas used with difficulty |
Large waves begin to form; white foam crests are more extensive everywhere, probably some spray |
|
Moderate Gale | 32 – 38 | Whole trees in motion; inconvenience felt in walking against the wind |
Sea heaps up and white foam from breaking waves begins to be blown in streaks along the direction of the wind |
This type of water condition is for emergency only in small aircraft in inland waters and for the expert pilot |