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LESSON 5

The Weather

GALE

When there is a gale waves are about 5.5 metres high and are fairly long. The edge of the wave crests begin to break into spindrift. Foam is blown in well-marked streaks along the direction of the wind.


	The sea looks like this if there is gale.

The wind can breaks twigs
off trees and cars might be
veering on the road.

The speed of the wind is between 34 and 40 knots.

Remember that a knot is one nautical mile (nm) per hour.

A nautical mile is the traditional way of measuring distances at sea. It is equal to
1,852 metres. The word nautical (like the word maritme) means ‘to do with the
sea or ships’.

Sailors describe a gale as Wind Force 8. Various levels of wind force are given
by the Beaufort Wind Force Scale. We will learn about this in another lesson.

Listen to the Weather Forecast
	Listen to this sample weather forecast describing the outlook for the weather for the next three days.

Check the weather outside

A gale can break twigs off trees. Have a look outside and
see if this is happening.

Follow the Fleet LIVE

Choose a ship from the fleet. Find out where she is and check what the Captain said about the weather in his last report. . . click here now to Follow the Fleet LIVE.

Video Highlights
	Watch this video clip taken from the bridge of a ship in a gale. The ship moves up and down on the waves and the captain turns the wheel to steer the ship through the bad weather.