Near Gale

A Beaufort force 7 wind, with a mean speed of 28 to 33 knots.

Near gale is the formal descriptive term immediately below gale on the Beaufort scale. At sea, foam begins to stream in the direction of the wind, the surface becomes increasingly covered with white water and wave conditions are difficult for small craft.

The speed range refers to a sustained or mean wind under the convention used for the observation, not an isolated gust. Forecast wording, sea state, fetch and proximity to land must all be considered when judging likely conditions.