Theodoris Kolydas: The difference between wind gusts and the Beaufort scale

The former director of EMY, Theodoros Kolydas, attempts to clarify the difference between wind gusts and the Beaufort scale through a post on X.

As he explains, the Beaufort scale is not designed for gusts, but for the average wind intensity over a specific period. Using the Beaufort scale to measure gusts can distort the actual wind intensity.

Mr. Kolydas emphasizes that international meteorological services, including EMY and WMO, provide forecasts in Beaufort only for average intensity. In navigation, the Beaufort scale is used operationally only for average intensity, such as for port departure bans.

He suggests that average intensity should be reported on the Beaufort scale, while gusts should be reported in km/h or m/s, for example: "Wind 6 Beaufort with gusts up to 75 km/h."