Mediterranean winds
Mistral and tramontane
Two cold, dry and powerful winds that built the reputation of the Gulf of Lion. Understanding them means avoiding nasty surprises.
Where do they come from?
Both are northerly winds, channelled and accelerated by the terrain, which typically kick in when a low deepens over the Gulf of Genoa / the Mediterranean and a high sets in over the Atlantic.
| Mistral | Tramontane | |
|---|---|---|
| Corridor | Rhône valley | between the Pyrenees and the Massif Central |
| Direction | N to NW | NW to W-NW |
| Area | eastern gulf (Marseille, Camargue) | western gulf (Roussillon, Languedoc) |
| Character | strong, gusty, long-lasting | strong, dry, gusty |
The fair-weather trap
Mistral and tramontane blow under a blue sky. Bright sunshine is not a sign of calm: it's often the opposite. They get up quickly, accelerate off the coast, and create a short, steep sea raised rapidly by the fetch.
Site effect: the wind strengthens at the mouth of a valley and off the headlands. Near the coast on the "lee" side of the land, you can get a false impression of calm before catching the full wind a few miles further out.
Example
Established mistral: 25–30 knots in port, but 35–40 knots in gusts 5 miles offshore, sea 2–3 m and very short. The typical duration runs from one to several days — wait for the forecast end rather than "the morning lull".
How long does it last?
A blow can last from a few hours to 3–6 days. The end is often gradual. Watch the gusts drop over several runs before setting off, and beware of a pick-up late in the episode.