Convert Beaufort Scale to Meter per Second (Bft → m/s)

Converting Beaufort to meters per second is straightforward: multiply by the conversion factor. Follow these three steps to do it by hand or in your head.

1. 1
   Take your value in Beaufort

   Start with the number of Beaufort (Bft) you want to convert.
2. 2
   Multiply by 1

   The conversion factor from Bft to m/s is 1. Multiply your value by this number.
3. 3
   Read the result in meters per second

   The result is your value in meters per second (m/s).

Multiply the value in Beaufort by 1. For the reverse direction, multiply by 1.

• ✓Beaufort is empirical — conversion to m/s uses v = 0.836 × B^1.5.
• ✓Force 4 (moderate breeze) = 5.5–7.9 m/s.
• ✓Marine forecasts still use Beaufort alongside knots.

• ✗Treating Beaufort as a linear scale — it is a power relationship.
• ✗Converting Beaufort to km/h by multiplying — always use the empirical formula.
• ✗Using Beaufort for land winds — it was designed for sea conditions.

What is the Beaufort Scale?

The Beaufort scale is an empirical wind-force scale ranging from 0 (calm) to 12 (hurricane), developed in 1805 by British Royal Navy Admiral Francis Beaufort. Originally designed for ships at sea, the scale was based on observed effects: 'How much sail can my ship safely carry?' Modern versions describe both observed effects on land and sea and corresponding wind-speed ranges. Force 0 is dead calm (under 1 km/h), Force 6 is 'strong breeze' (39–49 km/h, large branches in motion), Force 10 is a 'whole storm' (89–102 km/h), and Force 12 is hurricane (over 118 km/h). The conversion to numeric speeds follows v = 0.836 × Bft^1.5 m/s. Sailors, meteorologists, and shipping forecasts still use the Beaufort scale because its descriptive nature is intuitive: 'Force 8 gale' immediately conveys conditions to anyone familiar with the scale.

• Marine weather forecasts
• Sailing and offshore navigation
• Historical weather records

What is the Meter per Second?

Meters per second is the SI unit of speed and the standard for physics, engineering, and Olympic athletics. Defined directly from the meter (length) and second (time), m/s is the natural unit for scientific work — Newton's laws of motion, kinematic equations, and fluid dynamics all use m/s. World-class athletes reach about 12 m/s in the 100-meter sprint (Usain Bolt's record averaged 10.44 m/s), commercial airliners cruise at 240–250 m/s, and a casual walk is about 1.4 m/s. The speed of sound in air at sea level is approximately 343 m/s, and the speed of light in vacuum is 299,792,458 m/s. Wind speeds in scientific contexts use m/s, though km/h dominates weather reporting. m/s relates to km/h (1 m/s = 3.6 km/h), mph (1 m/s ≈ 2.237 mph), the knot (1 m/s ≈ 1.944 kn), and ft/s (1 m/s ≈ 3.281 fps).

• Physics and engineering calculations
• Wind speed in science and aviation
• Sprint and throw analysis in sports science