"Graham Easterling" wrote in message
...

I really can't see the problem as far as the average
landlubber is concerned and that must constitute the vast majority of
the audience. The term "gale force" when referring to gusts is simply
a shorthand way of saying 39-46 mph and as long as it is not implied
that the mean speed is gale force then I see nothing wrong with it.

Tudor Hughes- Hide quoted text -


But gusts of 39-46 don't represent a gale, probably typical of a Force
6.In the last 10 years I've recorded 511 days (14% of the total) with
gusts of 39mph or over, and I'm in a sheltered spot away from the sea
front. It's making the word gale almost meaningless. I suppose by
downgrading the use of the word, it allows 'gale' to be used in the
inland SE, who would never get a look in otherwise.

Graham
Penzance

I think you will find that to a shipping forecaster in MO, a gale is winds
in the range 39-46mph....... but only in the sense that mean speeeds must be
at least 39mph OR gusts at least 46mph (except in the case of isolated
gusts). Hence Norman is right that gusts of 35k do not constitute a gale.

Norman writes that 'There's no reason why the criteria for issuing warnings
of an event
have to be the same as the criteria that define the event of the same
name has actually happened, though it would certainly be less confusing
if they were.' He then gives examples of snow etc over LAND. I concede that
public service warnings are a right mixup. However the Severe Warnings are
for events that affect large areas, whereas the instantaneous rates are
local events. Hence they are not the same thing. For shipping purposes
definitions have to be more watertight....... Where are you Jon?

Weaman