A whole gale is a wind of force 10 on the Beaufort Scale, ranging in strength from 48 to 55 knots. Trees are broken off or uprooted, saplings bent and deformed. Poorly attached asphalt shingles and shingles in poor condition peel off roofs. A whole gale creates very high waves with overhanging crests. Large patches of foam from wave crests give the sea a white appearance. Considerable tumbling of waves with heavy impact. Large amounts of airborne spray reduce visibility. Winds of this strength prompt the issuance of a storm warning on the ocean, and a high wind warning on land.
References
Whole gale Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA