Copy of `Met Office Wind Guide - Glossary of meteorology`

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Met Office Wind Guide - Glossary of meteorology Category: Sciences > Glossary of meteorology Date & country: 21/12/2010, UK Words: 35

Backing
The changing of the wind in the opposite direction to veering (anticlockwise), e.g. SE to NE

Becoming cyclonic
Indicates that there will be considerable change in wind direction across the path of a depression within the forecast area

Gale
Winds of at least Beaufort force 8 (34–40 knots) or gusts reaching 43–51 knots

Good
Visibility more than 5 nautical miles

High
Wave height of 6.0 to 9.0 m

Hurricane force
Winds of force 12 (64 knots or more)

Imminent
Expected within six hours of time of issue

Later
Expected more than 12 hours from time of issue

Moderate
Visibility between 2 and 5 nautical miles

Moderate
Wave height of 1.25 to 2.5 m

Now rising (or falling)
Pressure has been falling (rising) or steady in the preceding three hours, but at the time of observation was definitely rising (falling)

Phenomenal
Wave height more than 14.0 m

Poor
Visibility between 1,000 metres and 2 nautical miles

Rapidly
Moving at 35 to 45 knots

Rather quickly
Moving at 25 to 35 knots

Rising (or falling)
Pressure change of 1.6 to 3.5 hPa in the preceding three hours

Rising (or falling) more slowly
Pressure rising (or falling) at a progressively slower rate through the preceding three hours

Rising (or falling) quickly
Pressure change of 3.6 to 6.0 hPa in the preceding three hours

Rising (or falling) slowly
Pressure change of 0.1 to 1.5 hPa in the preceding three hours

Rising (or falling) v. rapidly
Pressure change of more than 6.0 hPa in the preceding three hours

Rough
Wave height of 2.5 to 4.0 m

Severe gale
Winds of force 9 (41–47 knots) or gusts reaching 52–60 knots

Slight
Wave height of 0.5 to 1.25 m

Slowly
Moving at less than 15 knots

Smooth
Wave height less than 0.5 m

Soon
Expected within six to 12 hours of time of issue

Steadily
Moving at 15 to 25 knots

Storm
Winds of force 10 (48–55 knots) or gusts reaching 61–68 knots

Veering
The changing of the wind direction clockwise, e.g. SW to W

Very high
Wave height of 9.0 to 14.0 m

Very poor
Visibility less than 1,000 metres

Very rapidly
Moving at more than 45 knots

Very rough
Wave height of 4.0 to 6.0 m

Violent storm
Winds of force 11 (56–63 knots) or gusts of 69 knots or more

Wind direction
Indicates the direction from which the wind is blowing