Annex 4 – Basic wind speed in various countries

To determine whether your shelter can withstand winds occurring in your area, it is necessary to know the fundamental value of the basic wind speed.
The fundamental value of basic wind speed or the fundamental value of basic wind velocity1 as it is called in the Eurocode (European standards) is used to
calculate the wind pressure on buildings.

Each country uses various fundamental values of the basic wind speed to calculate the wind pressure on a building, such as:
 3-second gust wind speed, at 10 m above ground level in open country terrain
 1-minute average wind speed, at 10 m above ground level in open country terrain
 10-minute average wind speed, at 10 m above ground level in open country terrain

The Roof Estimate Form (Excel spreadsheet annexed to the manual) follows the Eurocode and therefore uses the 10-minute average wind speed, at 10 m
above ground level in open country terrain, for a 50-year return period.

In order to simplify your research of the value of the basic wind speed for your country, all data provided by each country are converted and
harmonized in the table below.
This allows you to quickly define what category of wind to be considered in the calculation of the wind pressure of your shelter.
Note that these values are the standard values used in calculations for permanent buildings. For emergency shelters or transitional shelters no
standard values are defined.

The basic wind speeds are classified in the table per country per region.
The fundamental value of the basic wind speed (velocity) is not a set value. It changes over time, particularly because in recent years some regions have
experienced stronger winds than the 20 or 30 previous years  keep in mind that these values are not static so it is important to consult the meteorological
office website, for your area, to get the latest value.
If your country is not listed in the table below, you should contact the meteorological office in your country or, e.g. for small-sized islands use the value for nearby
islands

1 The fundamental value of the basic wind velocity, vb,0, is the characteristic 10 minutes mean wind velocity, irrespective of wind direction and
time of year, at 10 m above ground level in open country terrain with low vegetation such as grass and isolated obstacles with separations of at
least 20 obstacle heights. Source: Eurocode 1

Annexes to Manual:
How to build Safe Roofs with Corrugated
Galvanized Iron (CGI) Sheeting
 Annex 4 – Basic wind speed in various countries

The following table shows basic wind speed for various countries (to be used in Roof Estimate Form)

based on a 50-year return period

10-minute mean wind Equivalence of
3-second gust wind speed speed cyclone category
Regiom)n Country mph km/h m/s mph km/h m/s
Africa Angola 68 109 30 53 85 24 Tropical storm
Africa Chad 114 183 51 94 151 42 Category 2
Africa Mali (Bamako) 137 220 61 117 188 52 Category 3
Africa Mali (Gao) 155 249 69 135 217 60 Category 4
Africa Mauritania 96 154 43 76 122 34 Category 1
Africa Mozambique 85 137 38 70 113 31 Tropical storm
Africa Niger 120 193 54 100 161 45 Category 2
Africa Senegal (Dakar) 95 153 42 75 121 34 Category 1
Africa Senegal (St Louis) 112 180 50 92 148 41 Category 1
Africa South Africa (Beaufort West) 112 180 50 92 148 41 Category 1
Africa South Africa (major cities) 90 145 40 70 113 31 Tropical storm
America Brazil (extreme South) 112 180 50 92 148 41 Category 1
America Brazil (North half) 68 109 30 53 85 24 Tropical storm
Asia Pacific American Samoa 125 201 56 105 169 47 Category 2
Asia Pacific Fiji 145 233 65 125 201 56 Category 3
Asia Pacific Guam 170 274 76 150 241 67 Category 4
Asia Pacific Hawai 105 169 47 85 137 38 Category 1
Asia Pacific Hong Kong - Macau* 145 233 65 125 201 56 Category 3

Annexes to Manual:
How to build Safe Roofs with Corrugated
Galvanized Iron (CGI) Sheeting
Asia Pacific Japan main islands 98 158 44 78 126 35 Category 1
Asia Pacific Japan Okinawa 112 180 50 92 148 41 Category 1
Asia Pacific New Caledonia 120 193 54 100 161 45 Category 2
Asia Pacific Philippines 155 249 69 135 217 60 Category 4

based on a 50-year return period

10-minute mean wind Equivalence of
3-second gust wind speed speed cyclone category
Region Country mph km/h m/s mph km/h m/s
Asia Pacific Samoa 150 241 67 130 209 58 Category 4
Asia Pacific Taiwan 160 257 72 140 225 63 Category 4
Asia Pacific Vanuatu 145 233 65 125 201 56 Category 3
Caribbean Antigua & Barbuda 121 195 54 101 163 45 Category 2
Caribbean Bahamas 121 195 54 101 163 45 Category 2
Caribbean Barbados 92 148 41 72 116 32 Tropical storm
Caribbean Cuba 121 195 54 101 163 45 Category 2
Caribbean Dominica 106 171 47 86 138 38 Category 1
Caribbean Grenada 85 137 38 70 113 31 Tropical storm
Caribbean Guadeloupe 101 162 45 81 130 36 Category 1
Caribbean Haiti 110 177 49 90 145 40 Category 1
Caribbean Jamaica 100 161 45 80 129 36 Category 1
Caribbean Martinique 87 139 39 72 115 32 Tropical storm
Caribbean Montserrat 119 191 53 99 159 44 Category 2
Caribbean Puerto Rico 145 233 65 125 201 56 Category 3
Caribbean Saint Lucia 101 163 45 81 130 36 Category 1
Caribbean St Kitts & Nevis 125 201 56 105 169 47 Category 2

Annexes to Manual:
How to build Safe Roofs with Corrugated
Galvanized Iron (CGI) Sheeting
 based on a 50-year return period
10-minute mean wind Equivalence of
3-second gust wind speed speed cyclone category
Region Country mph km/h m/s mph km/h m/s
Caribbean St Vincent & Grenadines 93 150 42 73 117 33 Tropical storm
Caribbean Trinidad (North) 90 145 40 70 113 31 Tropical storm
Caribbean Virgin Island 145 233 65 125 201 56 Category 3
Indian Ocean Bangladesh 135 217 60 115 185 51 Category 3
Indian Ocean India 98 158 44 78 126 35 Category 1
Indian Ocean Mauritius 150 241 67 130 209 58 Category 4
Indian Ocean Myanmar 68 109 30 53 85 24 Tropical storm
Indian Ocean Reunion 96 155 43 76 122 34 Category 1

Annexes to Manual:
How to build Safe Roofs with Corrugated
Galvanized Iron (CGI) Sheeting