Measured reports are preferred over estimated reports, as they are generally more accurate. However, sometimes it's hard to estimate properly under severe weather conditions. Over-estimating is as bad or worse than under-estimating storm conditions.
Here are guidelines for estimating in your reports. Hail Size
Pea Size 1/4"
Dime Size 1/2" (Minimum reportable size)
Penny Size 3/4"
Nickel Size 1"
Golf Ball Size 1-3/4" (Fore!)
Baseball Size 2-3/4" (Get out the glove and your helmet!)
Snow Intensity Light Visibility > 1/2 mile. Moderate Visibility > 1/4 mile but <= 1/2 mile. Heavy Visibility <= 1/4 mile. Rain Intensity
Light Less than 0.2"/Hr.
Moderate 0.2" to 1.0"/Hr.
Heavy 1.1" to 2.2"/Hr. (Minimum reportable rain)
Very heavy 2.3" to 4.5"/Hr.
Intense 4.6" to 7.1"/Hr.
Extreme More than 7.1"/Hr. (Anybody know how to build an ark?)
Wind Speed (Miles Per Hour)
0 (Calm) Smoke rises vertically
1-3 Smoke drifts but windvanes do not move
4-7 Wind felt on face, leaves rustle
8-12 Small twigs in motion
13-18 Dust raised, loose paper raised, small branches move
19-24 Small leafy trees move, crested wavelets form on water
25-31 Large branches in motion, whistling in wires
32-38 Whole trees in motion, inconvenience felt walking against wind
39-54 Twigs break off trees
55-72 Damage to chimneys, pushes over shallow rooted trees
72-112 Peels surface off roofs, windows broken, trailer homes overturned
113-157 Roofs torn off houses, trailers destroyed, large trees snapped and uprooted
158 & Up Severe damage, cars lifted off ground (life passes before your eyes) Beaufort Wind Scale Beaufort
Number | Wind Speed
(MPH) | Description | 0 | <1 | Calm; smoke rises vertically. | 1 | 1-3 | Direction of wind shown by smoke drift; wind vane unaffected. | 2 | 4-7 | Wind felt on face; leaves rustle; wind vane moves. | 3 | 8-12 | Leaves and small twigs in constant motion; wind extends light flag. | 4 | 13-18 | Raises dust, loose paper; small branches move. | 5 | 19-24 | Small trees with leaves begin to sway; crested wavelets form on inland waters. | 6 | 25-31 | Large branches in motion; whistling heard on telephone wires; imbrellas difficult to control. | 7 | 32-38 | Whole trees sway; walking into wind becomes difficult. | 8 | 39-46 | Twigs break off trees; cars veer on roads. | 9 | 47-54 | Slight structural damage occurs (roof slates may blow away, etc.) | 10 | 55-63 | Large trees uprooted; considerable structural damage. | 11 | 64-72 | Widespread damage. | 12 | 73 + | Hurricane force; widespread damage. |
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Reporting Estimates 