Mistral (Wind)

The Mistral is a cold, often strong downslope wind from the northwest, located in the lower Rhone Valley ( and beyond) is noticeable.

Spread

The term Mistral is mainly used in conjunction with Provence, but also the province of Languedoc (east of Montpellier), the Var ( Frejus ), the whole of the lower Rhone valley (from Lyon to Marseille) and the islands of Corsica and Sardinia are affected. The eastern part of the Côte d' Azur, the so-called French Riviera, with the higher mountains towering on the other hand is protected and remains almost always spared by the most experienced as unpleasant wind.

Basics

The Mistral can first quite gentle and yet warmed by the land mass and therefore blow warm. After a few hours or days it can be a strong to very strong winds are blowing direction over France in the Mediterranean from the north-west. Typical is then a cloudless dark blue sky, good distance vision, at night an impressive starry sky and a significant drop in temperature. He can blow for days and occurs so frequently that the trees are bent toward the Rhône Valley often in wind direction to the south ( Windflüchter ).

When a low pressure area over northern France withdraws to the east, the traditional starting point for the Mistral is given. The wind is caused by air flowing into the Mediterranean polar air. The Alps and the Cevennes form a blockade so that the cold polar air into the Rhone Valley, a grave rift between these two mountain passes. Through this channeling ( jet effect ) arise there high wind speeds 50-75 km / h in peaks above 135 km / h In addition, the Mistral very dry and cut the soil moisture, which increases the risk of forest fires in Provence considerably.

The typical Mistral weather is characterized by high air pressure over the Bay of Biscay and a low pressure area over Italy. This situation often arises in conjunction with cold waves from the north, runs the main thrust across the UK up in the northwestern Mediterranean. There, the cold air meets warm Mediterranean air. This provides favorable conditions for the emergence of Genoa lows.

One indication of the very sudden onset of Mistral are the very eye-catching Lenticulariswolken.

To name

The Provencal know 32 winds from all directions and the mistral is blowing directly from the North wind. The very strong Mistral is also called Aurassos and a very cold Mistral Cisampo. In the lower reaches of the Ebro the Mistral Cierzo is called. In Sardinia and Sicily he called Maestrale. Greece knows this wind as MAISTRALI ( Μαϊστράλι ). In Croatia it is called Maestral. The synonym cerium is used for the Mistral in Catalonia, Narbonne and in parts of Provence.

The definition of Mistral in the Provencal is uneven. For a Mistral is a fluttering only in the Rhone Valley Northwest wind. Thus, it can further east, such as in the Côte d' Azur, actually be no Mistral. Others, however, speak with ( cold ) North winds on the Côte d' Azur by Mistral.

The same effect is produced between the Cévennes and the Massif Central. The resulting wind called the Tramontana and blowing in west-east direction - other sources indicate the Mistral as a case of wind from the mountains of the Massif Central, which is perceived despite trockenadiabatischer warming as cold as it flows into the warmer Mediterranean air.

Pictures

Mistral on the island of Château d'If Marseille before.

Gischtende breaker at Mistral, Plage du Prado.