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gale Wind of force 8 on the Beaufort scale (38 to 40 knots) is classified as a "gale." Wind of force 9 (41 to 47 knots) is classified as a "strong gale;" and wind of force 7 (28 to 33 knots) is classified as a "near gale." See also moderate gale, and fresh gale and whole gale. The NWS OPC issues "Gale warnings" for sustained (> 2 hr) winds in the range of 34 to 47 knots, either present or expected. They are posted at marinas and harbors and coast guard stations and shown on weather maps as "GALE." Such a warning system was initiated by Robert FitzRoy in England in the mid 1800s and followed shortly by a system in the Netherlands set up by Buys-Ballot.

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