We have all heard of the Tramontane and the Mistral, these regional winds that blow over certain regions of mainland France. But there are many others to know in order to navigate safely when you want to set sail in a new region. Today, we focus on the winds of Brittany.
Regional winds
The wind is what corresponds to the movement of air in the atmosphere. There are 4 kinds of winds :
seasonal winds
regional / local winds
cyclonic winds
anticyclonic winds
In the French metropolis, there are many regional winds which appear according to the relief present on a zone. They are designated by specific names. But you have to be careful because a wind has several names depending on the region in which it blows. For example, the Mistral in Corsica is called "Maestrale", or "Magistrau" in some areas of Occitania.
The locals know them well but it is not always easy to find your way around when you don't know the region in question. It is better to find out what winds are blowing in the region where you want to launch your boat, whether it is a sailboat or a motorboat.
Discover the top 4 regional winds in Brittany that we have chosen to present you.
Regional winds in Brittany
1. The Galerne or Noroît
Location : The Galerne is a north-west wind (noroît). It blows on the West of France, in particular in Touraine, Berry, Deux-Sèvres, Vendée, Basque Country and Brittany.
Characteristics : In Brittany it is called Gwalarn. It appears more frequently in spring and autumn. It is a very strong wind that can reach up to 100 km/h, it is also very cold and is often accompanied by very heavy short rains.
Formation : It forms when a cold front from the Bay of Biscay passes. The west winds are strengthened because they are channeled by the Cantabrian Mountain Range.
2. The Nordet
Location : The Nordet as its name indicates is a wind that comes from the North-East.
Characteristics : In summer, this wind from the North-East is accompanied by hot and sunny days on almost all of Brittany. Only the coasts of the English Channel are refreshed by this wind coming from the sea. In winter, this wind is loaded with moisture and it falls as rain or even snow.
Formation : This wind is formed when there is the presence of high pressure over the British Isles and an area of low pressure from Spain to Germany.
3. The Suroît
Location: The Suroît is the opposite of the Nordet. It is a wind that comes from the southwest. It appears in Brittany and Normandy.
Characteristics : This wind is generally a harbinger of hot weather. It is often associated with humidity and heat. It blows at regular speed and is not too changeable.
Formation : It forms in any season on this region of the French metropolis.
4. The Kornog
Location : The Kornog means West in Breton. It is thus a wind which comes from the West and which blows on Brittany.
Characteristics : This wind is the one that predominates in Brittany. It is not very strong but appears regularly in any season.
Formation : This wind forms regularly. It is not the result of particular meteorological conditions.
Did you know?
Some winds have names that correspond to the name of the direction they come from. The Nordet blows from the Northeast, the Suroît from the Southwest, etc...
Don't hesitate to read our article on the winds of Lake Geneva which are very varied and allow sailors to enjoy themselves.
And because a gust of wind can cause damage to your boat, find out about insurance with BoatOn! Visit our website or the BoatOn app to request your free quote and compare insurance. You will find the one that best suits your needs and meets your expectations at the best price!
Now that we have given you all our advice to navigate safely in Brittany, we wish you "Bon Vent"!
Don't hesitate to leave a comment or write to us at paul@boaton.fr for any suggestion.