What is the Mistral?

 Where is the mistral?

There is the name given to a wind which blows in the Rhône Valley in France. The wind is caused by an exchange of air between the cold hinterland of France’s Central Plateau and the warm Gulf of the Lion in the Mediterranean Sea.

High mountain ranger near flat country produce unpleasant winds, especially where the mountains descend to a warm sea. Atmospheric pressure is high above the cold mountains, but low above the sea. Air, therefore, flows towards the sea and is not warmed because it has not crossed enough land.

The north-westerly mistral, funnelling down the constriction of the Rhône Valley, blows at a speed of 30 to 60 m.p.h. on at least 50 days each year. It bursts out on to the Mediterranean coast, filling holidaymaker’s caravans with sand and capsizing yachts caught unaware at sea.