A free-verse poem I found about a building hurricane:

Flat. Calm.

Ripples without crests.
Wind motion visible in smoke.

Small wavelets.
Wind felt on exposed skin.

Leaves rustle.

Large wavelets; leaves and smaller twigs in
Constant motion.

Small waves.

Dust and loose paper raised.
Small branches begin to move.

Moderate longer waves; some foam and spray.
Smaller trees sway.

Sea heaps up and foam begins to streak.

Large branches in motion; umbrella use becomes difficult.

Moderately high waves with breaking crests.
Streaks of foam.

Twigs broken from trees.
Cars veer on road.

High waves with dense foam. Wave crests start to roll over.
Considerable spray.

Light structural damage. Very high waves.

The sea surface is white and there is considerable tumbling.
Visibility is reduced. Trees uprooted.
Considerable structural damage. Huge waves.

Air filled with foam and spray.
Sea completely white with driving spray.

Visibility very greatly reduced.
Massive and widespread damage to structures.

… by Sir Francis Beaufort.