force X gusting Y.. aghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[bbg]

I have never thought about it in these terms before, but now that you have mentioned it I think you are entirely right. As I understand it, Beaufort describes a combination of wind and sea state. They go together and describe the overall conditions. The Beaufort scale does not describe momentary "snapshots".

Although it is possible for one of these parameters (wind) to change quickly and dramatically, and then revert to the "baseline" just as quickly, the other parameter (sea state) will not change appreciably over a period of 30 seconds to 2 minutes (for example). So although the wind may gust, the Beaufort Force # will remain the same.

As I think you have said, the best way to describe it after the fact would be to say "Force X with gusts to ZZ knots".

Correct?

 

[jimbaerselman]

I agree your fundamental point, Cap'n. Well made.

One factor not yet mentioned is that a Fx wind is going to have very different gusting charactistics in different places. And area forecasts can't take that into account, so they should remain silent on the matter.

Open water is one thing. Downwind of low lying land is a little more gusty, especially if there are plenty of cumulus around. Downwind of a 500m high cliff is something else. And downwind of a serious narrow ridge 1000m high in the Mediterranean when there's a measly F6 forecast will lay a vessel flat with occasional 50kt gusts. F6 gusting 11 just because one spot in the area has a little hill in the way?

By the way cap'n, how about fixing those sticky keyboard letters? It only seems to be the ooooo and hhhhh so far; I'm not sure how far the coffee spill went though.