How do you measure the “strength” of wind?

Question

Let’s say (not real math) that 99 mph wind cannot pick up a car, but 100 mph can. Is there a unit of strength? Or calculation for the speed vs what it can do?

In: Other

Answer 1

There’s the “Beaufort scale” which is an empirical measure of wind force. Empirical means that the values are derived from either experiments or observations not something that’s very exact, calculated and based on specific theory.

Example 12 on the Beaufort scale is a hurricane and 3 is a gentle breeze.