Weather Words: Sirocco Winds

The Sirocco is a hot, dry wind that blows northward across the Mediterranean from the Sahara Desert. It forms when strong low-pressure systems develop over the central or western Mediterranean, drawing in desert air from North Africa.

As this air mass travels across the sea, it can pick up moisture, sometimes turning into a humid and oppressive wind by the time it reaches southern Europe. Because of its desert origins, the Sirocco often carries dust and sand, tinting skies orange or red and reducing visibility.

In places like Italy, Greece and the Balkans, the Sirocco is well known for its intensity and the way it affects daily life. Temperatures can rise sharply when it blows, sometimes even in the middle of cooler seasons.

The Sirocco is part of a broader family of named winds in Europe and around the world that are tied to specific weather patterns and geography. Like the Mistral in France or the Santa Ana winds in California, the Sirocco has a reputation not just as a meteorological event but as a cultural force, influencing local folklore, architecture and even literature.

Its arrival is often anticipated and recognized by communities along the Mediterranean, a reminder of how the desert and the sea are intimately connected through the atmosphere.

Jennifer Gray is a weather and climate writer for weather.com. She has been covering some of the world's biggest weather and climate stories for the last two decades.