Reading the forecast
| Wind | km/h | mph | What it is like |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light | Under 12 | Under 8 | Leaves rustle; smoke drifts |
| Moderate | 12–28 | 8–18 | Small branches move; dust and paper lift |
| Strong | 29–49 | 19–31 | Large branches sway; umbrellas hard to use |
| Gale | 50–74 | 32–46 | Twigs break; walking into the wind is hard |
| Storm | 75+ | 47+ | Damage to trees and buildings likely |
Gusts can be half as strong again as the average wind, especially in towns and on hills. Weather symbols show the main weather for the hour or 6-hour block; “showers” means rain that comes and goes with dry spells, while “rain” means a longer spell.
Planning around the weather
- Outdoor plans: check the hourly rain row; a dry gap of two or three hours between showers is common.
- Cold mornings: clear skies overnight mean a colder dawn, with frost or ice when the low is near 0 °C (32 °F).
- Sun: a UV index of 3 or more means sun protection; see air quality and UV for the day’s peak.
- Stargazing and aurora: look for nights with low cloud cover, and check the northern lights forecast.