Sirocco
Sirocco is a southeast to south wind that blows for several days and brings with it low pressure and mostly high humidity. It does not occur suddenly, it blows mostly evenly at a speed of 6 to 11 m/s (22 to 40 km/h), but sometimes it reaches hurricane strength at 30 m/s (110 km/h). It is strongest on the open sea, where it creates big waves. Sirocco never rises suddenly; it reaches its full strength only after 24 to 36 hours of blowing.
Upon its occurrence, the south-eastern horizon is covered by low clouds that later accumulate around the tops of the hills and gradually cover the entire upper part of the mainland, then the rest of the sky is covered with thick, low lead-coloured clouds; visibility is partially limited and growing waves are generated from the southeast (locally known as dead sea).
Bora
Bora is a strong, dry and cold, gusty (changing direction and speed abruptly) and turbulent wind from the mainland that blows for several days, and can sometimes reach hurricane strength on our coast. Bora with speeds of 20 to 35 m/s (70 to 200 km/h) occurs frequently, interrupting traffic in exposed places and between the coast and islands. In the channels it is dangerous for smaller boats as it can occur suddenly, almost without any sign and immediately blow with hurricane strength.
Bora causes a thin, misty layer (so-called “sea smoke”) that rises from the sea surface. Towards the open sea the speed of bora decreases and the gusts gradually lose their strength, but the waves get bigger. Cyclonic bora is accompanied by cloudy, rainy, even snowy weather, and anticyclonic bora (clear bora) occurs with a strong anticyclone. Visibility during and after the anticyclonic bora is very good, and the weather is clear and dry.
By mechanical action, drying of the soil and the formation of salt sediment, bora prevents vegetation growth in the exposed northern parts of some of the islands in the northern Adriatic.
Tramontane
It is also called the more merciful sister of bora. During the summer, it occurs as a local wind that is transient and short-lived, and it usually passes in one day, but it can create big waves, especially farther from the coast. In extreme situations, especially on the open sea, it can reach the strength of bora. This information is particularly useful for boaters because bays open to the north should be avoided for anchorage.
It can rise to the strength of 25 knots because it blows strongly and steadily. Due to a natural phenomenon that leads to an increase in temperature differences between land and sea, the wind blows through the bay.