Is It Kite Weather?
The skies are all blue and the wind is blowing swiftly in many parts of the country right now. This makes me want to go out and buy a kite to fly. I’m not sure which stores offer the best deals on kites or would have a good selection to choose from. I just know these windy days make it perfect for flying a big, colorful kite in the sky.
The weather is changing and as we get rid of Old Man Winter and bring in the warm sunshine from spring, this causes a lot of wind to stir up. We often see the stronger winds in the fall time; when our weather goes from hot to cold. We don’t often think about flying kites in the spring time, but it’s really a good time right now.
Just when we thought spring / summer was ready to begin; that last cold front moves through our area and sends a cold chill running through our bones. We have to turn the heat back up and add an extra blanket on the bed at night. This period is the time you will see the little flowers start to bloom on plants. The bees love these flowers and it’s an early food source for them in the spring. This cool air disturbs the air above and creates a lot of strong winds in most areas. I can look out the kitchen window right and see this could be a perfect day to fly a kite.
| Force | Wind Speed | WMO Description |
Wind Speed Indicators | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MPH | Knots | KPH | At Sea | On Land | ||
| 0 | <1 | <1 | <1 | Calm | Smooth as glass | Calm; smoke rises vertically |
| 1 | 1-3 | 1-3 | 1-5 | Light Air |
Ripples with appearance of scales; no foam crests | Smoke drift indicates wind direction; vanes do not move |
| 2 | 4-7 | 4-6 | 6-11 | Light Breeze |
Small wavelets; crests of glassy appearance | Wind felt on face; leaves rustle; vanes begin to move |
| 3 | 8-12 | 7-10 | 12-19 | Gentle Breeze |
Large wavelets; crests begin to break, scattered whitecaps | Leaves & small twigs in motion; light flags extended |
| 4 | 13-18 | 11-16 | 20-29 | Moderate Breeze |
1-4 ft. waves; numerous whitecaps | Leaves, & loose paper raised up; flags flap; small branches move. |
| 5 | 19-24 | 17-21 | 30-38 | Fresh Breeze |
4-8 ft waves; many whitecaps; some spray | Small trees begin to sway; flags flap & ripple |
| 6 | 25-31 | 22-27 | 39-50 | Strong Breeze |
8-13 ft waves forming white caps everywhere; more spray | Large branches in motion; whistling heard in wires |
| 7 | 32-38 | 28-33 | 51-61 | Near Gale |
13-20 ft. waves; white foam blows in streaks | Whole trees in motion; resistance felt in walking against wind |
| 8 | 39-46 | 34-40 | 62-74 | Gale | 13-20 ft. waves; edges of crests begin to break; foam in streaks | Whole trees in motion; resistance felt in walking against wind |
| 9 | 47-54 | 41-47 | 75-86 | Strong Gale |
20 ft. waves; sea begins to roll; dense streaks of foam | Slight structural damage occurs; shingles blow from roofs |
| 10 | 55-63 | 48-55 | 87-101 | Storm | 20-30 ft. waves; white churning sea; rolling is heavy; reduced visibility | Trees broken or uprooted; considerable structural damage occurs |
| 11 | 64-74 | 56-63 | 102-120 | Violent Storm |
30-45 ft. waves; white foam patches | Widespread damage to trees & buildings |
| 12 | 75+ | 64+ | 120+ | Hurricane | 45 ft.+ waves; white sea; driving spray | Severe & extensive damage |