03. Winds

The blow of the wind is another constant. It sculptures the rocks, mould the vegetation. A wind that can cause also serious problems to the visitors. Even if the Harbour of Portoferraio is good sheltered, and it’s considered with Malta the safest harbour in the Mediterranean Sea, and with the small harbour of Rio Marina well equipped, with rough sea both hydrofoils and the big ferries can’t take the open sea from Piombino or leave the island.
The Libeccio is one of the strongest wind and it’s responsible for the biggest inconveniences, generally preventing mooring and leaving from Piombino. Also strong West wind, sirocco or gregale can cause delay or cancellation of the trips. The libeccio wind produces also wonderful sunsets with an horizon rich in moved and imaginative clouds among which filter the rays sun. The Libeccio sea is also the most spectacular and violent. All the western coast permits to enjoy the show of the rough sea and of the big waves that break up the coast.
To Grecale and North wind are associated the most blue sky, fresh air (or really cold in winter) and inflamed sunsets. Each category has its own dominant winds.
The winter is windswept by cold winds like Grecale (NE) and also by North wind (N) but less frequently or by rainy and tepid wind like Sirocco (SE) and Libeccio (SW). It’s also the season in which we can assist to the most violent storms.
In spring blow also Sirocco and Libeccio, sometime very strong, but generally it lasts for a short time.
In summer in relation to the good weather blow Mistral (NW) breezes and soft winds, West wind (W) and less frequent the Levanter (E), Sirocco (SE) and Auster (S), these last two winds are often guides of hot temperature and of sometimes sticky humidity.
In autumn increase of frequency Sirocco, Auster and Libeccio, often they are charged with rains.
In conclusion the Elba Island is a geographical place where the winds have their say and they have contributed to metamorphosis and changes, remarkably affecting on the climate difference between the three sides (Central side, Eastern side, Western side) creating different landscapes and visions, only for about two months in a year exists a condition of total wind calm.