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The pattern of typical winds that we get in a local area is called a local wind. The local winds originate due to the change in air pressure, caused by the local difference in temperature and pressure on the land. They are limited to small areas, usually on the scale of tens to hundreds of miles and are known by local names. These winds can be hot or cold, dry or wet. They can be mild and safe, beneficial or harmful, refreshing or violent and dangerous. Local winds have a big effect on the weather conditions. They compel the clouds and moisture to move around and can make an area wetter or dryer.
Some of the important local winds are discussed here below.
The Sirocco is the name of the southerly wind experienced in North Africa, Sicily and Southern Italy. It originates in the hot Sahara Desert of Africa and reaches the sea as a very hot and dry wind. On the Algerian coast, its heat and dryness are more increased. However, it picks up moisture as it crosses the Mediterranean. The Sirocco causes dusty dry conditions along the northern coast of Africa, while it brings storms in the Mediterranean Sea, and cool wet weather in Europe. It is harmful for the vegetation and often causes much damage to the crops, especially the blooming vines and the olives. In Egypt this type of wind is known as the Khamsi.
The Mistral is the local name given to the strong northerly or north-westerly wind that blows from the Alps over France, towards the Mediterranean Sea. It is channeled through the Rhine valley and isvery cold and dry with a high speed of over 100 km/hr. Due to the terrific speed of the wind, many of the trees in the area are forever bent in the direction of the wind. The Mistral brings blizzards in southern France and is harmful to plant life.
Föhn is a warm, dry, gusty wind that blows down the leeward slope of a mountain. It often starts abruptly and the temperature may rise more than 10°C in five minutes. Accordingly, the wind strength also increases from almost calm to a gale force within no time. The Föhn is best known in the valleys of the northern Alps, especially in Switzerland. It also occurs in the North American Rockies, the Moray Firth in Scotland and over eastern parts of New Zealand’s South Island. In addition, it also occurs over eastern Sri Lanka during the south-west monsoon.
The Föhn winds have different local names in various parts of the world. It is known as Chinook in the North American Rockies, Ghibli in Libya, and Zondain the Andes ofArgentina.
The Loo originates during summer mainly in the Great Indian Desert Thar in northwest India, and the desert regions of South Balochistan. The Loo is a very hot and dry, dusty and gusty, strong summer wind, which from the west usually in the afternoon over the Indo-Gangetic Plain of northern India and Pakistan from the west, especially in the months of May and June. Its temperature often ranges between 45C and 50C, which may causefatal sunstroke to people.
