Check the weather before going paddling!
- check what force the winds are (above force 4 starts to get rough. See force descriptions below)
- check what direction winds blowing
- check if there are any warnings issued
- check the satellite imagery for approaching storms
For detailed local weather reports for water sports, visit: http://www.hko.gov.hk/sports/watersports.shtml
Force descriptions
| Descriptive Term |
Beaufort Force(F) |
Wind Speed | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calm | F 0 | < 1 kt | < 2 km/h |
| Light | F 1 | 1 – 3 kt | 2 – 6 km/h |
| F 2 | 4 – 6 kt | 7 – 12 km/h | |
| Moderate | F 3 | 7 – 10 kt | 13 – 19 km/h |
| F 4 | 11 – 16 kt | 20 – 30 km/h | |
| Fresh | F 5 | 17 – 21 kt | 31 – 40 km/h |
| Strong | F 6 | 22 – 27 kt | 41 – 51 km/h |
| F 7 | 28 – 33 kt | 52 – 62 km/h | |
| Gale | F 8 | 34 – 40 kt | 63 – 75 km/h |
| F 9 | 41 – 47 kt | 76 – 87 km/h | |
| Storm | F 10 | 48 – 55 kt | 88 – 103 km/h |
| F 11 | 56 – 63 kt | 104 – 117 km/h | |
| Hurricane | F 12 | >= 64 kt | >= 118 km/h |