Wind Conditions Sotavento Fuerteventura

Trade winds, Fuerteventura

The North East trade winds blow throughout the year, although they tend to move up & down the Atlantic. The summer is the windiest time in Fuerteventura and the trades can start to blow as early as March and as late as May. The trade winds are not as strong wind as many people imagine; only about Force 3 on the open sea. Sotavento actually means "Leeward Side", Barlovento being "Windward side". However around the island of Fuerteventura there are acceleration zones where the wind is either funnelled between mountains, or islands. In these places, the wind can sometimes increase to as much as 8 or 9 Bft.

The trades can blow right the way through to the middle of September when they tend to move further south. The summer winds in Fuerteventura are controlled by having High pressure sitting over the Azores (Azores High) and a Low over the Sahara (Sahara Low). The high pressure can be very stable and it is possible for it to extend right across the Atlantic from Portugal to Florida.

Winter winds, Fuerteventura

In winter the situation is different. There are small low pressure systems coming from the coast off New Foundland. They travel eastwards accross the Atlantic, and as they travel they get deeper and stronger. This results in the bad winter weather of Europe and the British Isles. These low pressure systems generate waves in winter. If these systems travel as far South as the Canaries they create very strong winds - force seven to eight, or even nine. These winds blow in a south - southwest direction. They last from 2 to 4 days.

Scirroco Wind, Fuerteventura

Finally, there is one other wind direction which is interesting, which is the Scirroco. This is a hot dry wind coming straight off the Sahara desert, about 65 miles away. This is either onshore or cross -onshore from the right. It can be strong or light and normally lasts anything from 2 - 10 days.

Sotavento Beach and Lagoon. The wind here accelerates as it comes across the island, giving good winds in Summer.

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