News: The Poniente and Levante winds explained in Spain

You hear it in the weather reports after the news on TV and you read about it in the newspapers in Spain: the "viento de Poniente" and the "viento de Levante".

But what are they talking about when using these terms to make something clear? A short explanation of these two winds that have a major influence on the weather and the temperatures.

Poniente

The Poniente wind comes from the Atlantic Ocean and moves from west to east. As the air flow progresses, it gradually loses moisture and the temperatures rise as a result of the blower effect, causing the east coast of Spain to experience very dry and warm winds.

Levante

The Levante wind, together with the Tramontana and Terral, is perhaps the best known wind condition in Spain as it is often noticeable on the Mediterranean. The name levante is therefore often repeated in the Spanish weather reports so that the Spaniards and foreigners are more familiar with this wind condition.

The Levante wind comes from the east where it is usually formed near the Balearic islands and affects the central part of the Mediterranean coast such as the states of Comunidad Valenciana, Murcia and Andalusia.

The highest wind speeds are reached in the Strait of Gibraltar where the wind also causes rain in the mountains of the province of Cádiz, the rainiest area in Spain. The Levante wind is also characterized by high temperatures and a high degree of humidity.