The highest numbered force on the Beaufort wind force scale is Force 12.
The Beaufort scale was created by British naval officer Francis Beaufort in 1805 to describe wind effects on sailing ships rather than to give precise wind-speed readings. Its original descriptions ranged from calm conditions to winds that made sailing extremely dangerous. The scale was later adapted for use on land, where descriptions include effects on trees, buildings, and visibility.
Force 12 is the top of the traditional scale and corresponds to hurricane-force winds, with sustained speeds of at least 64 knots, or 118 kilometres per hour. The scale does not continue upward in its standard form, although some countries have extended it informally for exceptionally intense tropical cyclones.
The Beaufort scale is not the same as the Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale. Beaufort describes wind force generally, while Saffir–Simpson categorizes hurricanes from Category 1 to Category 5 using sustained wind speed.