EXPLAINER: What is the 'Mistral' wind fanning the Marseille wildfire?
Firefighters said the blaze had, when at its most ferocious, advanced by more than 1 km per minute but was now contained. However, with weather forecasts showing the Mistral set to blow through the evening and part of the night, there remained a risk the front line could once again advance.
What is the mistral wind?
The Mistral is a strong, cold and dry wind that blows from the north or northwest through the Rhone Valley in southern France towards the Mediterranean Sea.
It is a wind shaped by the geography of the area, particularly the funnel-like Rhone Valley, which accelerates the wind as it moves southward. The name Mistral comes from the word "mistrau" in the local Occitan dialect, meaning "masterly".
The wind is known for blowing clear, dry air in bright blue skies. It has a significant impact on agriculture, architecture and daily life in Provence and surrounding areas.
When does the mistral wind blow?
The Mistral can occur at any time of year, but it is most frequent in the winter and spring months.
It forms when a high-pressure system over the Atlantic or northern France meets a low-pressure system over the western Mediterranean. This pressure difference drives air southwards, which intensifies as it passes through the Rhone Valley.
The wind can last from a few hours to several days, and sometimes longer.
How powerful is the mistral windi?
The Mistral is one of Europe's most powerful regional winds. It often reaches 50 to 90 kph, but gusts can exceed 100 kph, particularly near the coast, and it has been recorded at over 120 kph.
It can damage crops, fell trees and affect roads and air traffic. It can also whip up the seas and be hazardous for sailors. Despite its challenges, the Mistral also brings benefits: it dries the vineyards and olive groves that are abundant in southern France, reducing fungal diseases.
Artist Vincent van Gogh captured the region's distinctive weather and light in some of his paintings, including Pine Trees against a Red Sky with Setting Sun.—Reuters
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
GMA Network
a day ago
- GMA Network
At least 60 dead in north China following extreme rain, authorities say
A drone view shows partially submerged village houses and other buildings after heavy rainfall flooded the area, in Miyun district of Beijing, China July 29, 2025. REUTERS/ Florence Lo BEIJING — Extreme weather killed at least 60 people in northern China over the past week, with 31 deaths in an elderly care home in Beijing's hilly Miyun district in one of the deadliest floods to have hit the Chinese capital in years. In Beijing, 44 people were killed and nine were missing as of midday Thursday, deputy mayor of Beijing, Xia Linmao, said at a press conference. Heavy rains began a week ago and peaked around Beijing and surrounding provinces on Monday, with Miyun experiencing rainfall of up to 573.5 mm (22.6 inches)—levels local media described as "extremely destructive." The average annual rainfall in Beijing is around 600 mm. In the nearby province of Hebei, 16 people died as a result of the intense rainfall, authorities said. At least eight were killed in the city of Chengde just outside Beijing, with 18 unaccounted for. The deaths occurred in villages within the Xinglong area of Chengde in Hebei province, state-run Xinhua reported late on Wednesday citing local authorities, without specifying when or how the people died. The deaths in Chengde occurred in villages which border Beijing's Miyun about 25 km (16 miles) from the Miyun reservoir, the largest in China's north. The reservoir saw record-breaking overall water levels and capacity during the rains which devastated nearby towns. At its peak on Sunday, up to 6,550 cubic meters of water—about 2.5 Olympic-sized pools' worth— flooded into the reservoir every second. In another Hebei village north of the reservoir, a landslide on Monday killed eight people, with four missing. Extreme rainfall and severe flooding, which meteorologists link to climate change, pose major challenges for Chinese policymakers, with officials partially attributing a slowdown in factory activity to such events. — Reuters
GMA Network
2 days ago
- GMA Network
Reported death due to Crising, Dante, Emong, Habagat now 37
People on board a truck are evacuated out of a flooded village following monsoon rains in Cainta, Rizal on July 22, 2025. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez The number of reported fatalities due to the impact of Tropical Cyclones Crising, Dante, Emong, and the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat has increased to 37, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said on Thursday. In its 6 a.m. report, the NDRRMC said nine of the reported deaths were in Metro Manila; eight in Calabarzon; six in Western Visayas; three each in Cordillera Administrative Region, Negros Island Region, and Northern Mindanao; two in Central Luzon; and one each in Mimaropa, Davao Region, and Caraga. Only two of the reported deaths have been confirmed, according to the NDRRMC. In Barangay Poblacion in Mambajao, Camiguin, the victim was hit by a falling tree. In Barangay Matin-ao in Mainit, Surigao del Norte, the victim was riding his motorcycle from a friend's house when a tree collapsed and hit him. The NDRRMC said 22 people were reported injured while eight others were reported missing. A total of 7,685,943 people or 2,121,645 families have been affected by the bad weather in all regions except Eastern Visayas. The region with the most number of affected individuals was Central Luzon with 2,820,250. Floods, landslides, collapsed structures, and tornadoes were reported in the affected areas. Of the total affected population, 105,466 people or 30,072 families were staying in evacuation centers, while 88,734 people or 23,588 families were taking shelter in other places. The extent of damage was reported at P10,080,789,951 for infrastructure, P1,961,211,507 for agriculture, P281,660,000 for irrigation systems. A total of 46,655 houses were damaged—41,217 partially and 5,438 totally. Interruptions of power supply, water service, and communication lines were reported in the affected areas. Some airports and seaports also became non-operational leaving many passengers stranded, according to the NDRRMC. Classes in 1,046 areas and work schedules in 911 areas were suspended due to the threat of the bad weather. A state of calamity was declared in 241 cities and municipalities. These include the entire provinces of La Union, Bataan, Pampanga, Cavite, Rizal, Laguna, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Antique, and Negros Occidental, as well as other cities and municipalities in other provinces: Umingan, Mangaldan, Lingayen, Malasiqui, Calasiao, San Carlos, Binamaley, Aguilar, Basista, Mangatarem, Alaminos, and Urbiztondo in Pangasinan La Union province Dagupan City, Dagupan Bataan province Pampanga province Calumpit, Balagtas (Bigaa), Paombong, Meycauayan, Marilao, Barangays Matungao and Tibig in Bulakan, Hagonoy, Obando, Marilao, Guiginto, and Bocaue in Bulacan Paniqui, Camiling, and Moncada in Tarlac Masinloc, Zambales Quezon City Marikina Navotas Manila Valenzuela Caloocan Las Piñas Paranaque Muntilupa Cavite province Agoncillo, Nasugbu, San Luis, Tanauan, Tingloy, and Laurel in Batangas Rizal province Laguna province Oriental Mindoro province Occidental Mindoro province Roxas, Palawan Concepcion, Romblon Antique province Pototan, Iloilo Negros Occidental province Cebu City Assistance worth P763,694,580 has been provided to the victims so far, the NDRRMC said. —AOL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
2 days ago
- GMA Network
Tsunami warning for French Polynesia after Russia earthquake
PARIS — Local authorities in French Polynesia have issued a tsunami warning for the Marquesas Islands archipelago, with waves of 1.10 to 2.20 meters expected to hit the islands of Ua Huka, Nuku Hiva, and Hiva Oa overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday. The warnings follow a powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Russia's Far Eastern Kamchatka Peninsula. Residents were urged to move to higher ground and follow official instructions, including securing boats or moving them away from the shore. Other archipelagos in French Polynesia may be affected by waves less than 30 cm high, which do not require evacuation or sheltering, local authorities said. French Polynesia covers 4,200 sq km of the Pacific Ocean, roughly the area of continental Europe. It consists of 118 islands, grouped into five archipelagos. — Reuters
