The mistral in France is a cool or cold, often violent, and usually dry wind, blowing throughout the year but is most frequent in winter and spring. It blows from the northwest or north of Europe through the valley of the Rhône River to the Mediterranean. It also affects the whole of Sardinia in Italy.
In the south of France the name comes from the Languedoc dialect of the provençal language and means "masterly". The same wind is called mistrau in the Occitan language, mestral in Catalan and maestrale in Italian and Corsican.
The mistral is usually accompanied by clear and sunny weather, and it plays an important role in creating the climate of Provence. It can reach speeds of more than ninety kilometers an hour, particularly in the Rhone Valley.
For those living in the South of France the mistral is both a blessing and a curse!
The blessing is that in the very hot summer the wind cools down the strong heat and drops the temperature of the pool that gets to 30c in summer, which is too warm to refresh one.
The downside is that when it blows day after day one goes “mistral mad”. This truly is a problem and many people develop headaches and won’t go out in it. Also one cannot put up sun umbrellas or sun awnings as they get damaged.
Boating also becomes very difficult as the sea becomes very agitated and it becomes difficult to moor the boat in the port with the winds blowing the boat all over the place.
As for the golf, well it gives us a great excuse when the ball doesn't go straight! It was the wind!
In the south of France the name comes from the Languedoc dialect of the provençal language and means "masterly". The same wind is called mistrau in the Occitan language, mestral in Catalan and maestrale in Italian and Corsican.
The mistral is usually accompanied by clear and sunny weather, and it plays an important role in creating the climate of Provence. It can reach speeds of more than ninety kilometers an hour, particularly in the Rhone Valley.
For those living in the South of France the mistral is both a blessing and a curse!
The blessing is that in the very hot summer the wind cools down the strong heat and drops the temperature of the pool that gets to 30c in summer, which is too warm to refresh one.
The downside is that when it blows day after day one goes “mistral mad”. This truly is a problem and many people develop headaches and won’t go out in it. Also one cannot put up sun umbrellas or sun awnings as they get damaged.
Boating also becomes very difficult as the sea becomes very agitated and it becomes difficult to moor the boat in the port with the winds blowing the boat all over the place.
As for the golf, well it gives us a great excuse when the ball doesn't go straight! It was the wind!
Who said the South of France was perfect?!! Well it almost is!!
Mr. L 9/07/09
Mr. L 9/07/09
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