Gale vs. Wind: What's the Difference?
By Janet White || Updated on May 23, 2024
A gale is a very strong wind, typically between 39-54 mph, often used in meteorology, while wind is the general term for air movement, varying in speed and direction.
Key Differences
A gale is a specific term used to describe a very strong wind, usually classified in meteorological contexts. It falls within a certain range on the Beaufort scale, generally between 39 to 54 miles per hour (62 to 88 kilometers per hour). This type of wind can cause significant impact, such as breaking twigs off trees or making walking difficult. Wind, on the other hand, is a general term that refers to the movement of air from high-pressure areas to low-pressure areas. Wind can vary greatly in speed and direction, ranging from light breezes to hurricane-force winds. It is a fundamental aspect of weather and climate.
In terms of intensity, a gale is a more specific and intense category of wind. While a gale represents a stronger force, wind encompasses all types of air movement, from the lightest breeze to the most powerful storm.
Gales are often associated with storms and severe weather conditions. They can be a sign of approaching inclement weather and are monitored closely in weather forecasting. Winds are a daily occurrence and can be influenced by various factors, including temperature differences, the Earth's rotation, and geographical features. Winds can be gentle, providing a cooling effect, or strong, potentially causing damage.
In marine and aviation contexts, knowing the difference between a gale and general wind conditions is crucial for safety. A gale warning signifies potentially hazardous conditions, whereas general wind information helps in planning and navigation.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Very strong wind, 39-54 mph
General term for air movement
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Speed Range
39-54 mph (62-88 km/h)
Variable, from calm to hurricane
Measurement Scale
Beaufort scale
General wind speed measurements
Associated Conditions
Severe weather, storms
All weather conditions
Impact
Can cause damage, difficult to walk
Varies from minimal to severe
Gale and Wind Definitions
Gale
Often associated with stormy weather.
Gale conditions are expected as the storm approaches.
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Wind
The movement of air from high to low pressure areas.
A gentle wind was blowing through the trees.
Gale
A strong wind with speeds from 39 to 54 mph.
The weather forecast predicts a gale tomorrow.
Wind
A movement of air generated artificially, as by bellows or a fan.
Gale
A wind force on the Beaufort scale, indicating significant strength.
Fishing boats are staying in port due to the gale warning.
Wind
Important in meteorology for understanding weather patterns.
Meteorologists track wind speeds to predict weather changes.
Gale
Requires specific warnings for marine and aviation safety.
Pilots are advised to avoid flying in gale conditions.
Wind
Moving air, especially a natural and perceptible movement of air parallel to or along the ground.
Gale
A wind with a speed of from 34 to 40 knots (39 to 46 miles per hour; 63 to 74 kilometers per hour), according to the Beaufort scale. Also called fresh gale.
Wind
The direction from which a movement of air comes
The wind is north-northwest.
Gale
A storm at sea.
Wind
A movement of air coming from one of the four cardinal points of the compass
The four winds.
Gale
Often gales A forceful outburst
Gales of laughter.
Wind
Moving air carrying sound, an odor, or a scent.
Gale
The sweet gale.
Wind
Breath, especially normal or adequate breathing; respiration
Had the wind knocked out of them.
Gale
To sing; charm; enchant.
Wind
Gas produced in the stomach or intestines during digestion; flatulence.
Gale
To cry; groan; croak.
Wind
The brass and woodwinds sections of a band or orchestra.
Gale
To talk.
Wind
Wind instruments or their players considered as a group.
Gale
To call.
Wind
Woodwinds.
Gale
To sing; utter with musical modulations.
Wind
Something that disrupts or destroys
The winds of war.
Gale
(nautical) To sail, or sail fast.
Wind
A tendency; a trend
The winds of change.
Gale
(meteorology) A very strong wind, more than a breeze, less than a storm; number 7 through to 9 winds on the 12-step Beaufort scale.
It's blowing a gale outside.
Many parts of the boat were damaged in the gale.
Wind
Information, especially of something concealed; intimation
Trouble will ensue if wind of this scandal gets out.
Gale
An outburst, especially of laughter.
A gale of laughter
Wind
Speech or writing empty of meaning; verbiage
His remarks on the subject are nothing but wind.
Gale
A light breeze.
Wind
Vain self-importance; pomposity
An expert who was full of wind even before becoming famous.
Gale
A shrub, also called sweet gale or bog myrtle (Myrica gale), that grows on moors and fens.
Wind
The act of winding.
Gale
(archaic) A periodic payment, such as is made of a rent or annuity.
Gale day - the day on which rent or interest is due.
Wind
A single turn, twist, or curve.
Gale
A strong current of air; a wind between a stiff breeze and a hurricane. The most violent gales are called tempests.
Wind
To expose to free movement of air; ventilate or dry.
Gale
A moderate current of air; a breeze.
A little gale will soon disperse that cloud.
And winds of gentlest gale Arabian odors fannedFrom their soft wings.
Wind
To detect the smell of; catch a scent of.
Gale
A state of excitement, passion, or hilarity.
The ladies, laughing heartily, were fast getting into what, in New England, is sometimes called a gale.
Wind
To pursue by following a scent.
Gale
A song or story.
Wind
To cause to be out of or short of breath.
Gale
A plant of the genus Myrica, growing in wet places, and strongly resembling the bayberry. The sweet gale (Myrica Gale) is found both in Europe and in America.
Wind
To afford a recovery of breath
Stopped to wind and water the horses.
Gale
The payment of a rent or annuity.
Wind
To wrap (something) around a center or another object once or repeatedly
Wind string around a spool.
Gale
To sale, or sail fast.
Wind
To wrap or encircle (an object) in a series of coils; entwine
Wound her injured leg with a bandage.
Wound the waist of the gown with lace and ribbons.
Gale
To sing.
Wind
To go along (a curving or twisting course)
Wind a path through the mountains.
Gale
A strong wind moving 45-90 knots; force 7 to 10 on Beaufort scale
Wind
To proceed on (one's way) with a curving or twisting course.
Gale
Can cause notable physical effects, such as breaking branches.
The gale force winds knocked over several trees.
Wind
To introduce in a disguised or devious manner; insinuate
He wound a plea for money into his letter.
Wind
To turn (a crank, for example) in a series of circular motions.
Wind
To coil the spring of (a mechanism) by turning a stem or cord, for example
Wind a watch.
Wind
To coil (thread, for example), as onto a spool or into a ball.
Wind
To remove or unwind (thread, for example), as from a spool
Wound the line off the reel.
Wind
To lift or haul by means of a windlass or winch
Wind the pail to the top of the well.
Wind
To move in or have a curving or twisting course
A river winding through a valley.
Wind
To move in or have a spiral or circular course
A column of smoke winding into the sky.
Wind
To be coiled or spiraled
The vine wound about the trellis.
Wind
To be twisted or whorled into curved forms.
Wind
To proceed misleadingly or insidiously in discourse or conduct.
Wind
To become wound
A clock that winds with difficulty.
Wind
To blow (a wind instrument).
Wind
To sound by blowing.
Wind
Real or perceived movement of atmospheric air usually caused by convection or differences in air pressure.
The wind blew through her hair as she stood on the deck of the ship.
As they accelerated onto the motorway, the wind tore the plywood off the car's roof-rack.
The winds in Chicago are fierce.
Wind
Air artificially put in motion by any force or action.
The wind of a cannon ball;
The wind of a bellows
Wind
The ability to breathe easily.
After the second lap he was already out of wind.
The fall knocked the wind out of him.
Wind
News of an event, especially by hearsay or gossip. (Used with catch, often in the past tense.)
Steve caught wind of Martha's dalliance with his best friend.
Wind
One of the five basic elements in Indian and Japanese models of the Classical elements.
Wind
Flatus.
Eww. Someone just passed wind.
Wind
Breath modulated by the respiratory and vocal organs, or by an instrument.
Wind
(music) The woodwind section of an orchestra. Occasionally also used to include the brass section.
Wind
A direction from which the wind may blow; a point of the compass; especially, one of the cardinal points, which are often called the "four winds".
Wind
Types of playing-tile in the game of mah-jongg, named after the four winds.
Wind
A disease of sheep, in which the intestines are distended with air, or rather affected with a violent inflammation. It occurs immediately after shearing.
Wind
Mere breath or talk; empty effort; idle words.
Wind
A bird, the dotterel.
Wind
The region of the solar plexus, where a blow may paralyze the diaphragm and cause temporary loss of breath or other injury.
Wind
The act of winding or turning; a turn; a bend; a twist.
Wind
(transitive) To blow air through a wind instrument or horn to make a sound.
Wind
(transitive) To cause (someone) to become breathless, as by a blow to the abdomen, or by physical exertion, running, etc.
The boxer was winded during round two.
Wind
To cause a baby to bring up wind by patting its back after being fed.
Wind
To turn a boat or ship around, so that the wind strikes it on the opposite side.
Wind
(transitive) To expose to the wind; to winnow; to ventilate.
Wind
(transitive) To perceive or follow by scent.
The hounds winded the game.
Wind
(transitive) To rest (a horse, etc.) in order to allow the breath to be recovered; to breathe.
Wind
(transitive) To turn a windmill so that its sails face into the wind.
Wind
(transitive) To turn coils of (a cord or something similar) around something.
To wind thread on a spool or into a ball
Wind
(transitive) To tighten the spring of a clockwork mechanism such as that of a clock.
Please wind that old-fashioned alarm clock.
Wind
(transitive) To entwist; to enfold; to encircle.
Wind
(intransitive) To travel in a way that is not straight.
Vines wind round a pole.
The river winds through the plain.
Wind
(transitive) To have complete control over; to turn and bend at one's pleasure; to vary or alter or will; to regulate; to govern.
Wind
(transitive) To introduce by insinuation; to insinuate.
Wind
(transitive) To cover or surround with something coiled about.
To wind a rope with twine
Wind
(transitive) To cause to move by exerting a winding force; to haul or hoist, as by a winch.
Wind
To turn (a ship) around, end for end.
Wind
To turn completely, or with repeated turns; especially, to turn about something fixed; to cause to form convolutions about anything; to coil; to twine; to twist; to wreathe; as, to wind thread on a spool or into a ball.
Whether to windThe woodbine round this arbor.
Wind
To entwist; to infold; to encircle.
Sleep, and I will wind thee in arms.
Wind
To have complete control over; to turn and bend at one's pleasure; to vary or alter or will; to regulate; to govern.
In his terms so he would him wind.
Gifts blind the wise, and bribes do pleaseAnd wind all other witnesses.
Were our legislature vested in the prince, he might wind and turn our constitution at his pleasure.
Wind
To introduce by insinuation; to insinuate.
You have contrived . . . to windYourself into a power tyrannical.
Little arts and dexterities they have to wind in such things into discourse.
Wind
To cover or surround with something coiled about; as, to wind a rope with twine.
Wind
To turn completely or repeatedly; to become coiled about anything; to assume a convolved or spiral form; as, vines wind round a pole.
So swift your judgments turn and wind.
Wind
To have a circular course or direction; to crook; to bend; to meander; as, to wind in and out among trees.
And where the valley winded out below,The murmuring main was heard, and scarcely heard, to flow.
He therefore turned him to the steep and rocky path which . . . winded through the thickets of wild boxwood and other low aromatic shrubs.
Wind
To go to the one side or the other; to move this way and that; to double on one's course; as, a hare pursued turns and winds.
The lowing herd wind lowly o'er the lea.
To wind out, to extricate one's self; to escape.Long struggling underneath are they could windOut of such prison.
Wind
To expose to the wind; to winnow; to ventilate.
Wind
To perceive or follow by the scent; to scent; to nose; as, the hounds winded the game.
Wind
To drive hard, or force to violent exertion, as a horse, so as to render scant of wind; to put out of breath.
Wind
To blow; to sound by blowing; esp., to sound with prolonged and mutually involved notes.
Ye vigorous swains, while youth ferments your blood, . . . Wind the shrill horn.
That blast was winded by the king.
Wind
The act of winding or turning; a turn; a bend; a twist; a winding.
Wind
Air naturally in motion with any degree of velocity; a current of air.
Except wind stands as never it stood,It is an ill wind that turns none to good.
Winds were soft, and woods were green.
Wind
Air artificially put in motion by any force or action; as, the wind of a cannon ball; the wind of a bellows.
Wind
Breath modulated by the respiratory and vocal organs, or by an instrument.
Their instruments were various in their kind,Some for the bow, and some for breathing wind.
Wind
Power of respiration; breath.
If my wind were but long enough to say my prayers, I would repent.
Wind
Air or gas generated in the stomach or bowels; flatulence; as, to be troubled with wind.
Wind
Air impregnated with an odor or scent.
A pack of dogfish had him in the wind.
Wind
A direction from which the wind may blow; a point of the compass; especially, one of the cardinal points, which are often called the four winds.
Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain.
Wind
A disease of sheep, in which the intestines are distended with air, or rather affected with a violent inflammation. It occurs immediately after shearing.
Wind
Mere breath or talk; empty effort; idle words.
Nor think thou with windOf airy threats to awe.
Wind
The dotterel.
Wind
The region of the pit of the stomach, where a blow may paralyze the diaphragm and cause temporary loss of breath or other injury; the mark.
Wind
Air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure;
Trees bent under the fierce winds
When there is no wind, row
The radioactivity was being swept upwards by the air current and out into the atmosphere
Wind
A tendency or force that influences events;
The winds of change
Wind
Breath;
The collision knocked the wind out of him
Wind
Empty rhetoric or insincere or exaggerated talk;
That's a lot of wind
Don't give me any of that jazz
Wind
An indication of potential opportunity;
He got a tip on the stock market
A good lead for a job
Wind
A musical instrument in which the sound is produced by an enclosed column of air that is moved by the breath
Wind
A reflex that expels intestinal gas through the anus
Wind
The act of winding or twisting;
He put the key in the old clock and gave it a good wind
Wind
To move or cause to move in a sinuous, spiral, or circular course;
The river winds through the hills
The path meanders through the vineyards
Sometimes, the gout wanders through the entire body
Wind
Extend in curves and turns;
The road winds around the lake
Wind
Wrap or coil around;
Roll your hair around your finger
Twine the thread around the spool
Wind
Catch the scent of; get wind of;
The dog nosed out the drugs
Wind
Coil the spring of (some mechanical device) by turning a stem;
Wind your watch
Wind
Form into a wreath
Wind
Raise or haul up with or as if with mechanical help;
Hoist the bicycle onto the roof of the car
Wind
Can vary widely in speed and direction.
The wind shifted from the north to the south.
Wind
A common weather element affecting temperature and climate.
The wind brought cooler temperatures to the region.
Wind
Influences daily activities and comfort levels.
She enjoyed the refreshing wind on a hot day.
FAQs
What speed range defines a gale?
A gale is defined by wind speeds between 39-54 mph.
Are gales associated with storms?
Yes, gales are often associated with stormy weather conditions.
How is wind different from a gale?
Wind is the general term for air movement, while a gale is a specific, strong wind.
Is a gale stronger than a regular wind?
Yes, a gale is a significantly stronger and more intense wind.
What scale measures a gale?
The Beaufort scale measures a gale.
How do gales affect daily life?
Gales can disrupt activities, cause damage, and pose safety hazards.
What is a gale?
A gale is a very strong wind with speeds between 39-54 mph.
What is the general term for air movement?
Wind is the general term for air movement.
Can wind be gentle?
Yes, wind can be gentle, providing a cooling effect.
Can a gale cause damage?
Yes, a gale can cause damage, such as breaking branches and making walking difficult.
Why are gale warnings important?
Gale warnings are crucial for safety in marine and aviation contexts.
Do winds influence weather patterns?
Yes, winds play a significant role in shaping weather patterns.
What are the effects of strong winds?
Strong winds can cause structural damage and impact transportation.
What causes wind?
Wind is caused by air moving from high-pressure to low-pressure areas.
Can wind speeds vary?
Yes, wind speeds can range from calm breezes to hurricane-force winds.
How do meteorologists use wind information?
Meteorologists use wind information to predict weather changes and patterns.
Can wind provide energy?
Yes, wind can be harnessed to generate renewable energy through wind turbines.
Is it safe to travel during a gale?
It is often unsafe to travel during a gale due to potential hazards.
Do gales occur frequently?
Gales are less common than general winds and usually occur during storms.
What factors influence wind?
Temperature differences, Earth's rotation, and geographical features influence wind.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
