| # | Max. Speed | Name | Conditions noted Sea/Land |
|---|
| knots | km/h | mi/h |
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | Calm | Sea like a mirror. |
| Smoke rises vertically. |
| 1 | 3 | 5 | 4 | Light Air | Ripples only. |
| Smoke drifts and leaves rustle. |
| 2 | 6 | 11 | 7 | Light Breeze | Crests, non-breaking smooth, 1/2 foot |
| Wind felt on face. |
| 3 | 10 | 19 | 11 | Gentle Breeze | Waves 2 feet, crests begin to break. |
| Flags extend |
| 4 | 16 | 29 | 18 | Moderate Breeze | Waves 3 feet, 10% whitecaps. |
| Dust moves about. |
| 5 | 21 | 39 | 24 | Fresh Breeze | Waves 4 1/2 foot, 40% whitecaps. |
| Small Trees begin to sway. |
| 6 | 27 | 50 | 31 | Strong Breeze | Waves 8 foot, some spray. |
| Large branches move, wires whistle, umbrellas are impossible. |
| 7 | 33 | 61 | 38 | Near Gale | Mounting sea 12 foot with foam blown in streaks downwind. |
| Whole trees in motion, walking inconvenient. |
| 8 | 40 | 74 | 46 | Gale | Waves 18 foot, crests break, foam clumps. |
| Walking dangerous, small branches break off trees. |
| 9 | 47 | 87 | 54 | Strong Gale | Waves 20 feet, dense foam, visibility affected. |
| Minor structural damage occurs ( shingles blown off roofs ). |
| 10 | 55 | 102 | 63 | Storm | Waves 30 feet, heavy sea roll, visibility impaired. Sea surface white. |
| Trees uprooted, structural damage siding of building torn away. |
| 11 | 63 | 118 | 73 | Violent Storm | Waves 40 feet, visibility poor. |
| Widespread damage to structures. |
| 12 | 64+ | 119+ | 74+ | Hurricane | Waves 50 feet, air filled with foam and spray, visibility 12 feet. |
| Severe structural damage to buildings. |
| |