Levanter:
An easterly wind through the Straits of Gibraltar and between Spain and Morocco. It is usually a light or moderate wind bringing with it excessive moisture, heavy dew, local cloud, and thick muggy atmosphere and just sometimes rain.
It may occur at any time of the year, but is most frequent from June to October and in March and seldom blows with much force.
Vendavales:
The vendavales are strong south-westerly winds which occur in the Strait of Gibraltar and the region off the Costa Tropical. They are associated with advancing depressions of late autumn to early spring; usually introduced by, and are liable to be interspersed with, thunderstorms and violent squalls. These winds are not frequent on the Costa Tropical but do exist.
An important feature affecting weather patterns on the Costa Tropical, from La Herradura to Carchuna, are the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the foothills which roll right down to the sea.
The mountains provide us with a near tropical climate and divert weather systems inland towards Granada City.
Often rain is predicted for these coastal regions of Spain by the stations in Malaga and whilst the areas from Malaga to La Herradura may experience inclement weather, the Costa Tropical often enjoys continued settled weather.
When checking weather forecasts it should be remembered that many television and radio as well as Internet forecasts are generated by stations set well inland at airports and other similar locations. They do not therefore take into account local variations.
The most accurate weather station for this area is Motril.
Because of the mountains sitting behind Salobrena and the Costa Tropical winter and summer patterns vary considerably.
During the summer months from early May until October weather is generally settled under the influence of the "Azores High" (the dominant high). This is a semipermanent subtropical high pressure area over the Eastern, North Atlantic.
Katabatic & Anabatic winds:
During this time we experience Katabatic winds.
Katabatic winds are those that flow from the high elevations of mountains and hills down their slopes to the sea below and Anabatic winds from the sea back up to the mountains. They are caused by the cooling and warming up of the land. The colder air rushing in below as the hotter air rises and vice versa.
These winds can come up very fast indeed and can be very fierce but only last for a very short time - often just ten minutes or so.
Some parts of the Costa Tropical - especially the eastern end in the region of Castel de Ferro, artificial winds are experienced.
This is because of the inland agriculture (plastic covered greenhouses). The sun beats down on the plastic causing continuous hot air to rise in thermals. The colder air from the sea rushes in to replace the rising hot air providing the coastal region with steady on shore breezes throughout the day.
The thermals created in this way have not gone un-noticed by para gliding enthusiasts who are able to ride the air currents for hours on end.
Scirocco:
A southerly wind moving eastwards in the Mediterranean along the Costa Tropical from the North African desert, generally in advance of a low pressure system.
Weather patterns and winds
Site map
(c) 2006 www.SalobrenaWeather.com all rights reserved
Incorporating La Herradura, Almuñeca, Motril, Carchuna, Castel de Ferro and the Alpujarra region from the Costa Tropical to Granada
SalobrenaWeather.com
Winds in other parts of the Mediterranean will be of interest to sailors entering via the Straits of Gibraltar and heading East. These winds do not affect Salobrena or the Costa Tropical.
Bora:
The Bora develops in a similar way to the Mistral blowing across the Adriatic Sea. It begins with cold air over Yugoslavia, mainly in the winter months spilling over the high mountains. This wind is north-easterly reaching speeds of 100mph. The Bora can cause severe damage and inconvenience to the water traffic in the area around Venice.
Meltemi or Etesian wind:
A northerly wind blowing through the central and eastern Med. during the summer months. It is caused by high pressure over Hungary and low pressure over Turkey. The Meltemi strong wind brings very pleasant cooler weather across Greece and Turkey, it offers some relief from the normal fierce summer heat. This wind is known as the Etesian by the Greeks and the Meltemi by the Turks.
Gregale:
A strong wind mainly associated with the cooler months in the south and central Mediterranean, it blows from the northeast. Malta is particularly exposed to the Gregale with the wind fetching over a large expanse of water from the areas above the Ionian and often hitting Malta with ferocious and unforgiving force.
Khamsin:
A hot, dry southerly wind that blows from inland Africa crossing Egypt, then into the eastern Mediterranean hitting Cyprus and the coast of Israel. The Khamsin is common in late spring and early summer and is a dirty wind often filled with dust and sand.
Marin:
The Sirocco moves across the Mediterranean up the Spanish coast gathering lots of moisture as it travels. It may then blow into South Eastern France from the French Coast as a strong warm and wet wind called the Marin.
Mistral:
The Mistral normally starts as a cold front running down across France. Air piles up in the Alps, spills over the top and rushes down the Rhône valley between the Alps and Cevenes. The Mistral often reaches a velocity of up to almost 100 miles an hour towards the French South Coast and the Gulf of Lyon. St.Tropez often takes the full force of this cold, powerful wind as it eventually hits the coast. The Mistral brings with it dry, but colder weather often sunny. Expect high seas and try to be in a safe port when this wind is in town.
Leveche:
A dry and hot southerly wind in south-east Spain and the Costa Tropical that warns of an advancing low pressure area.
Libeccio:
A gusty south westerly wind in the Mediterranean often felt in Salobreña and the surrounding area. It is most common in winter.
Tramontana
A dry cool northerly wind in most parts of the Mediterranean including the Costa Tropical.
Winds in other parts of the Mediterranean
