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Strong Tramuntana in L'Escala, in Alt Empordà, with bad
sea, big waves and clear sky, as seen in this photograph in La Vanguardia Readers' Photos.
The tramontana (etymologically it means "from beyond the mountain") is a cold and turbulent wind from the northeast or north, very characteristic of this area of northeastern Catalonia.
This wind uses the north of the Pyrenees and the southwest of the Central Massif (France) as an acceleration zone, to enter the Mediterranean.
In this area of the Costa Brava, which on these days of rough seas lives up to its name, the Tramuntana can last for several days with consecutive winds gusting over 200 km/h.
The forecast already said that, in the northeast of the peninsula and the Balearic Islands, there was a risk of strong winds and waves, according to the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet).
The risk from coastal phenomena will be important on the coast of Girona and Menorca, where there are winds from the north with intervals of 60 to 70 kilometers per hour (force 8) and waves of up to 4 and 5 meters of significant height and maximum waves of up to 9 and 10 meters high.
In addition, they will be at risk (yellow warning) due to winds of up to 70 or 80 kilometers per hour in Mallorca, Menorca, Girona, Castellón and due to coastal phenomena in Mallorca, Girona and Cádiz. Specifically, in Empordà intervals of strong wind were expected to blow.
