On Jan 14, 6:59*pm, "Jack )"
wrote:
I agree Norman. *As an ex-aviator, I never bothered with terms like
gales, strong winds, etc. *It was NUMBERS (30, 45 knots, etc). *Do
mariners do the same? *Indeed, I have little idea nor need to know how
a gale is defined in terms of actual speeds.

Martin. *You used to do the shipping forecasts. *Was it the user or
the supplier that wanted the terms gale, etc?

... a long way before my time, but in my copy of 'Weather Map' which
has examples of the Shipping Forecast from the early/mid 1950s, the
numerical value assigned to the wind is *not* present: e.g.
" Sole, Fastnet, Lundy, - Wind south-westerly, fresh increasing to
strong to gale. (etc.)"

If I had to *guess* (and it would be that), a change occurred whereby
the forecast wind was defined using the Beaufort notation in terms of
a 'Force' number, and the terms 'Gale', 'Severe Gale' etc., were
retained for emphasis at the higher values.
Any changes in my experience come from the user.

I agree with Norman: bad practice and confusing to boot!

Martin.