VCS perpendicular on the coast of France from 45°N 2°E to 40°N 8°E (through the Gulf of Lyon)

13 th February 2005, 18 UTC

Through the whole layer the strong wind up to 40 m/s can be noticed. Not only at the coast of Mediterranean but also in the inland of France the strong north-west wind was registered by synop reports. The strongest winds can be found over Massif Central.

14 th February 2005, 00 UTC

At this time step model gives the smallest wind speed over sea as we can expect. Anyway, the wind speed over 20 m/s can be noticed.

14 th February 2005, 06 UTC

At this time step notice the low level jet approximately over coast of France (between the Massif Central and the Alps). The intrusion of cold and dry stratospheric air was tunneled with Central Massif and Alps.

14 th February 2005, 12 UTC

The situation over sea in the lower level almost unchanged 6 hours later.

14 th February 2005, 18 UTC

In the upper level wind weakened over Central Massif and also over Mediterranean. But at the lower level over sea wind speed is up to 22 m/s.

15 th February 2005, 00 UTC

From now the weaking of the wind went on, also over sea.

15 th February 2005, 06 UTC

The "core" of north-west wind up to 20 m/s is still present over region between the Massif Central and the Alps in the layer up to 2 km.

15 th February 2005, 12 UTC

The model again gives the weaking of wind speed everywhere except in the region over sea, between the Massif Central and the Alps, where the Mistral appears.

15 th February 2005, 18 UTC

The north-west wind in the lower level is again stronger. In the upper level intensification of the wind speed over Central Massif was going on.

16 th February 2005, 00 UTC

Notice the new intensification of the wind over Central Massif. The strong gradient of the AT500 isohyps over this region is still present. In the upper level, especially over sea, the direction of the wind is from the east. The reason for that is the moving of the cyclone further to the south-east with the circulation in the upper level from the rear side of the cyclone.

16 th February 2005, 06 UTC

The direction of the wind is similar like 6 hours before. The wind speed greater than 20 m/s is at the slope side of the Central Massif.

16 th February 2005, 12 UTC

The sign of Mistral, which is weaker than before, is still present near the south coast of France. Over the sea, near Corse and Sardinia, in the upper level the flow is from the north.