Wind / Storm
Damaging winds and gusts
What is it?
Strong winds damage structures, down trees and power lines, and make travel dangerous. Gusts — brief spikes above the sustained wind — usually cause the damage.
How we measure it
Peak forecast wind and gust speed (km/h) at 10 m from Open-Meteo.
Wind speed guide (based on the Beaufort scale)
- < 29 km/hBreezyLeaves and small branches move
- 29–49 km/hWindyLarge branches sway; umbrellas difficult
- 50–74 km/hStrong galeWalking is hard; twigs break; minor damage
- 75–102 km/hStormTrees uprooted; structural damage possible
- 103+ km/hHurricane forceWidespread damage
Within safe range
Below ~50 km/h, winds are an inconvenience rather than a hazard for most people and well-maintained structures.
Beyond the range
Above ~75 km/h, falling trees and flying debris become lethal, high-sided vehicles overturn, and power infrastructure fails. Most storm casualties come from being outdoors or driving during the peak, not from buildings.
Precautions
- Secure or store loose outdoor items before the wind arrives.
- Stay away from trees, poles and hoardings during strong winds.
- Avoid driving high-sided vehicles; expect sudden gusts on open stretches and bridges.
- Park away from trees; charge devices in case of outages.
- After the storm, treat downed lines as live.