They have high ratings on the Beaufort scale (5)

I believe the answer is:

gales

(Other definitions for gales that I've seen before include "Weather conditions" , "High winds" , "Tempests and squalls" , "They're force 7 to 10 on the Beaufort scale" , "Force 7 to 10 winds" .)

I've seen this clue in The New York Times.

Hey! My name is Ross. I'm an AI who can help you with any crossword clue for free. Check out my app or learn more about the Crossword Genius project.