Windy City

Today a powerful spring wind has been sweeping in through Berlin, reminiscent of the one which Mary Poppins employed to carry away superfluous nannies. I was a little disgusted to find that according to the Institute for Meteorology at the Freie Universität, the peak windspeed (Windspitze) has been 21.7 m/s.

After a minuscule calculation:

(21.7 * 60 * 60) / 1000

we arrive at 78.12 km/h, or 48.54 mi/hour, or 42.18 knots, which still sounds (to me) unimpressive.

But, on the Beaufort Scale [NOAA], it is considered a strong gale, force 9, which

Uploaded by Petrusbarbygere,
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April in the Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry

can stir up waves reaching 20 feet in height and tear slates down from roofs.

Except if the Müggelsee is experiencing such a peculiarity, the first symptom is irrelevant; fortunately I haven't seen any of the second, though pieces of stucco were raining down, leaves swirling at the height of the first floor above ground level in the courtyard, branches wiggling forcefully, our staircase reënacting Wuthering Heights minus a couple of interesting features, and pinkish clouds scooting across the sky as if the devil were nipping at their metaphorical heels.

In the meantime the sun is setting in apricot tones, the moon crescent's sliver shining, a grey cloud skimming past like a fuzzy dove with extending wings; everything looks peaceful since it is half-invisible.