A method of controlling a wind power plant for generating electrical power from the wind, wherein - the wind power plant comprises a rotor having rotor blades which are adjustable in respect of the blade angle thereof and - the rotor can be operated at a variable rotational speed, said method comprising the steps of: - controlling the wind power plant in a partial load mode when the wind has a wind speed (Vw) below a nominal wind speed, - controlling the wind power plant in a storm mode when the wind has a wind speed (Vw) above a storm commencement wind speed (V SA), wherein - an output power to be output by the wind power plant in partial load mode and in storm mode is adjusted according to an operating characteristic curve, wherein the operating characteristic curve determines a relationship between the rotational speed and the output power, - a partial load characteristic curve (602, 702) is used as the operating characteristic curve for controlling the wind power plant in partial load mode, and - a storm mode characteristic curve (604, 704) is used as the operating characteristic curve for controlling the wind power plant in storm mode, and wherein - the storm mode characteristic curve and the partial load characteristic curve are different and the storm mode characteristic curve (604, 704), in comparison with the partial load characteristic curve (602, 702), has lower rotational speed values for the same power values, at least in sections, characterized in that - the storm commencement wind speed (V SA) is selected according to an expected stalling of the rotor blades. - the wind power plant comprises a rotor having rotor blades which are adjustable in respect of the blade angle thereof and - the rotor can be operated at a variable rotational speed, said method comprising the steps of: - controlling the wind power plant in a partial load mode when the wind has a wind speed (Vw) below a nominal wind speed, - controlling the wind power plant in a storm mode when the wind has a wind speed (Vw) above a storm commencement wind speed (V SA), wherein - an output power to be output by the wind power plant in partial load mode and in storm mode is adjusted according to an operating characteristic curve, wherein the operating characteristic curve determines a relationship between the rotational speed and the output power, - a partial load characteristic curve (602, 702) is used as the operating characteristic curve for controlling the wind power plant in partial load mode, and - a storm mode characteristic curve (604, 704) is used as the operating characteristic curve for controlling the wind power plant in storm mode, and wherein - the storm mode characteristic curve and the partial load characteristic curve are different and the storm mode characteristic curve (604, 704), in comparison with the partial load characteristic curve (602, 702), has lower rotational speed values for the same power values, at least in sections, characterized in that - the storm commencement wind speed (V SA) is selected according to an expected stalling of the rotor blades. - controlling the wind power plant in a partial load mode when the wind has a wind speed (Vw) below a nominal wind speed, - controlling the wind power plant in a storm mode when the wind has a wind speed (Vw) above a storm commencement wind speed (V SA), wherein - an output power to be output by the wind power plant in partial load mode and in storm mode is adjusted according to an operating characteristic curve, wherein the operating characteristic curve determines a relationship between the rotational speed and the output power, - a partial load characteristic curve (602, 702) is used as the operating characteristic curve for controlling the wind power plant in partial load mode, and - a storm mode characteristic curve (604, 704) is used as the operating characteristic curve for controlling the wind power plant in storm mode, and wherein - the storm mode characteristic curve and the partial load characteristic curve are different and the storm mode characteristic curve (604, 704), in comparison with the partial load characteristic curve (602, 702), has lower rotational speed values for the same power values, at least in sections, characterized in that - the storm commencement wind speed (V SA) is selected according to an expected stalling of the rotor blades.