Graham Easterling wrote:

On 14 Jan, 18:59, "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?

Jack

The term gale means a lot down here on the tip of Cornwall. A force 8
gale warning and boats think of returning to Newlyn, Force 9 severe
gale they stop thinking & do it. Just look at local sites like
www.sennen-cove.com/index.htm , which is produced brilliantly by the
coxswain of the Sennen lifeboat, and you will see the word gale used
appropriately. The beaufort sea descriptions are so useful, and are
instantly meaningful when you're by the sea.

Like Norman the I hate the phrase 'gusts to gale force', on exposed
coasts gusts to gale force occur a good proportion of the days in
winter, so is totally meaningless. It just means it's a bit windy.


Gale Force is defined as a mean wind speed of 34-40 knots. Therefore,
the term "gusts to gale force" would actually mean "gusts to a mean
speed of 34-40 knots" which is clearly nonsense.

Sorry to be banging on about this so much but it's been a pet hate of
mine since an occasion when I had to argue the toss in Court with an
obstinate QC who insisted that a gale had occurred because there were
wind gusts to 35 knots. The outcome of the case depended on whether or
not there had been a gale. Sometimes it matters!

Norman
--
Norman Lynagh
Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire
85m a.s.l.
(remove "thisbit" twice to e-mail)