Wind Speed Unit Converter
Convert wind speed between m/s, km/h, mph, knots, and Beaufort scale.
Includes Beaufort description and wind turbine cut-in reference.
Wind Speed Conversion
Wind speed is measured in different units depending on the context. Meteorologists use m/s and km/h, sailors use knots, and forecasts often use the Beaufort scale.
Conversion factors:
- 1 m/s = 3.6 km/h = 1.944 knots = 2.237 mph
- 1 knot = 1.852 km/h = 0.514 m/s
- 1 mph = 1.609 km/h = 0.447 m/s
Beaufort Scale:
| Force | Speed (m/s) | Description | Sea state |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0–0.2 | Calm | Glassy |
| 1 | 0.3–1.5 | Light air | Ripples |
| 2 | 1.6–3.3 | Light breeze | Small wavelets |
| 3 | 3.4–5.4 | Gentle breeze | Large wavelets |
| 4 | 5.5–7.9 | Moderate breeze | Small waves |
| 5 | 8.0–10.7 | Fresh breeze | Moderate waves |
| 6 | 10.8–13.8 | Strong breeze | Large waves |
| 7 | 13.9–17.1 | Near gale | Sea heaps up |
| 8 | 17.2–20.7 | Gale | High waves |
| 9 | 20.8–24.4 | Strong gale | Very high waves |
| 10 | 24.5–28.4 | Storm | Exceptionally high waves |
| 11 | 28.5–32.6 | Violent storm | Phenomenal |
| 12 | 32.7+ | Hurricane force | Air filled with foam |
Wind turbine operating range:
- Cut-in speed: 3–4 m/s (turbine starts generating)
- Rated speed: 10–14 m/s (full rated power)
- Cut-out speed: 20–25 m/s (turbine shuts down to protect itself)