Hiking Wind Scale (m/s)
0–2 m/s (Calm to Light Air)
Effect: Barely noticeable. Leaves hardly move, smoke drifts upwards.
Hiker Reaction: No impact. Perfect hiking weather.
3–5 m/s (Light Breeze)
Effect: Gentle movement of leaves and grass. A cool headwind can be felt.
Hiker Reaction: Comfortable for hiking. Secure lightweight hats and caps.
6–8 m/s (Moderate Breeze)
Effect: Noticeable resistance when walking into the wind. Branches sway.
Hiker Reaction: Still safe, but expect more effort on exposed ridges. Use trekking poles for balance.
9–11 m/s (Fresh Breeze)
Effect: Strong resistance when walking into wind. Dust and loose grit may lift.
Hiker Reaction: Be cautious on exposed areas and ridges. Secure gear (hats, maps, rain covers). Shorten steps for balance.
12–15 m/s (Strong Breeze)
Effect: Trees sway, conversation difficult. Hiking becomes tiring in exposed areas.
Hiker Reaction: Avoid narrow ridges, cliff edges, or scrambling. Consider sheltered alternative routes.
16–20 m/s (Near Gale)
Effect: Walking into the wind is very difficult; you may be pushed sideways. Dust and debris fly around.
Hiker Reaction: Dangerous on ridges or summits. Postpone hikes in exposed terrain. Seek lower, sheltered paths.
21–25 m/s (Gale)
Effect: Branches may break, difficult to stay upright, visibility reduced by dust/snow/rain.
Hiker Reaction: Unsafe for hiking. Cancel or abandon high-level hikes. Take shelter immediately.
26+ m/s (Severe Gale to Storm)
Effect: Uprooted trees, structural damage. Almost impossible to stand or move safely.
Hiker Reaction: Do not hike. If already outdoors, descend quickly to shelter and wait it out.
Quick Rule of Thumb:
0–8 m/s: Comfortable hiking conditions.
9–15 m/s: Manageable but challenging—stay alert.
16+ m/s: Unsafe—avoid exposed hiking.
Sources:
A practical adaptation that combines:
Meteorological References
The Beaufort Wind Scale (developed in 1805, still widely used by meteorological agencies such as the UK Met Office and NOAA). It describes wind speed ranges (in knots, km/h, or m/s) and their observable effects on the environment. I adapted those ranges to metres per second and interpreted them specifically for hikers.
Mountain Safety and Hiking Guidelines
Mountaineering Scotland and British Mountaineering Council (BMC) issue safety advice that warns climbers and hikers against venturing onto ridges/summits above ~15 m/s winds.
Swiss Alpine Club and Austrian Alpine Club provide similar guidance on the dangers of strong wind in exposed alpine terrain.
Mountain Forecast websites (e.g. mountain-forecast.com
) use m/s wind data and warn hikers when winds exceed ~15 m/s, often advising against high ridges.
Drakensberg Walking Excursions 