VCS parallel with the coast of France from 39°N 2°E to 45°N 11°E

13 th February 2005, 18 UTC

Mistral wind is characterized by the sinking of cold air generated over the mountains and then tunneled through the Garone Valley between the Pyrennes and the Massif Central and through the Rhone Valley farther east between the Massif Central and the Alps.
Two maxima of the wind can nicely be seen approximately at that places. The wind speed over 30 m/s at the first maximum can be find at 1 km and at the second maximum even lower, at 700 m.
At the upper levels direction of the wind is mostly west, north-west.

14 th February 2005, 00 UTC

The low level jet can be noticed above the Gulf of Lyon. At the upper level (5 km) the wind speed exeeded 35 m/s. Direction of the wind is still north-west.

14 th February 2005, 06 UTC

Overrunning of the cold air down to the lower level played important role in the process of cyclogenesis. At this point of time low level jet with speed of approximately 40 m/s appears in the same region. Direction of the wind in the upper level was changing from north-west to north.
At the right part of cross section over Ligur Sea the low level jet is also present. Direction of the wind is north-east which is an influence of the cyclone which formed in Genoa Bay.

14 th February 2005, 12 UTC

The similar situation like 6 hours before with decreasing of wind speed over Ligur Sea.

14 th February 2005, 18 UTC

The strong north, north-west wind through the whole layer is still present over Gulf of Lyon. The second maximum getting weaker.

15 th February 2005, 00 UTC

Through the layer from surface up to 2 km, from now to the end of time sequence over Gulf of Lyon the strong wind with speed over 20 m/s is present.
The theory of Mistral is well documented.

15 th February 2005, 06 UTC

The second maximum, west of Alps, was becoming weaker. The direction of the wind is from north-east in the first 2 km, which is accompanied with the circulation of cyclone in the Mediterranean. More to the west, due to the first maximum, the wind is in the whole section from north-west.

15 th February 2005, 12 UTC

The cyclone is moving to the south-east and the weaking of wind maximum west of the Alps is evident. The strong flow is still present with the wind maximum over 25 m/s at low level over Western Mediterranean.

15 th February 2005, 18 UTC

The wind speed and direction at the right side of the VCS fit well with theory of Mistral.

16 th February 2005, 00 UTC

The second maximum west of Alps again appears at surface and at low level. The reason is maybe the intensification of a new cyclone over Hungary.

16 th February 2005, 06 UTC

The similar situation like 6 hours before. The wind in the upper level was becoming weaker.

16 th February 2005, 12 UTC

In the lower level, east of Pyreenes, the strong north wind, up to 30 m/s is still present indicated the persistence of Mistral.