The Cyprus Meteorology Department on Sunday issued a yellow warning for gale winds.
It is valid from 08:00 Monday morning until 21:00 Monday night.
The warning says that near-gale to gale southerly winds with a mean speed of 7 to 8 Beaufort are expected to temporarily affect mainly the western and southern parts of the island.
Citizens are advised to be aware of debris being blown around. Localized outdoor activity disruption is possible due to debris.
What is a near gale wind?
A near gale wind is “a wind with a speed from 28 to 33 knots (32 to 38 miles per hour; 52 to 61 kilometers per hour), according to the Beaufort scale. Also called a moderate gale.”
What is a gale wind?
“A gale is a strong wind, typically used as a descriptor in nautical contexts. The U.S. National Weather Service defines a gale as 34–47 knots (63–87 km/h, 17.5–24.2 m/s or 39–54 miles/hour) of sustained surface winds. Forecasters typically issue gale warnings when winds of this strength are expected.”
What is the Beaufort scale?
“The Beaufort scale /ˈboʊfərt/ is an empirical measure that relates wind speed to observed conditions at sea or on land. Its full name is the Beaufort wind force scale. The scale was devised in 1805 by the Irish hydrographer Francis Beaufort (later Rear Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort), a Royal Navy officer, while serving on HMS Woolwich.”
The modern Beaufort scale has twelve main categories, each one with its own range of wind strength. The main categories are described as such:
- Calm
- Light Air
- Light Breeze
- Gentle Breeze
- Moderate Breeze, Fresh Breeze, Strong Breeze, High wind
- moderate gale, near gale
- Gale, fresh gale
- Strong or severe gale
- Storm, whole gale
- Violent Storm
- Hurricane Force
[…] Cyprus Meteorology Department issues gale wind warning […]