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The sirocco, along with the bora, is the main wind on the Adriatic from September to May. It is a warm, humid wind blowing from the east-southeast to the south-southeast that blows with a constant force, of usually about 15-20 knots, and not in gusts. It is not a sudden wind like the bora but takes about thirty-six hours to develop.
The sirocco blows the entire length of the Adriatic and brings rough seas, heavy clouds and rain. It is particularly strong where the coast is exposed to the open sea and where a channel allows the wind direct access.
It may blow at any time of the year, but in the northern Adriatic it blows mainly from March to June while in the southern Adriatic from autumn until the end of winter. In the summer it generally lasts up to three days while in winter it can last up to nine days.
The sirocco is usually preceded by calm seas and light winds. The barometer slowly drops while temperature and humidity rise. As the sirocco gains strength haziness to the southeast changes to small clouds moving from southeast to northwest. Waves develop gradually, a heavy swell develops in bays and the sea becomes choppy.
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