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Why Cádiz is so windy: the Levante and the Poniente explained
Cádiz lies on the Gulf of Cádiz, downwind of the 14-kilometre narrows of the Strait of Gibraltar, where an easterly Levante and a westerly Poniente decide whether a beach day is pleasant or gritty. This hub explains why the Levante is hot and dry, how long each wind lasts and which beaches stay sheltered.
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Travel insights: the big picture
Written by
Marta Jiménez Cossío Outdoors and travel writer covering Cádiz beaches, coastal walks and day trips.
One article carries this hub. Why Cádiz is so windy starts with the Strait of Gibraltar, only 14 kilometres wide at its narrowest, where the Penibética and Rif-Atlas ranges squeeze the easterly Levante through a Venturi effect before it fans out into the Gulf of Cádiz. The Levante blows on an average of 165 days a year in the Strait and arrives in Cádiz warm and dry.
The westerly Poniente is strong and gusty but short, lasting 6 to 14 hours on about 60 days a year, mostly from October to April. The article adds the local names for the Levante, such as «matacabras», "el bicho" and "el innombrable", and sorts the beaches: La Caleta and Santa María del Mar shelter from the Levante, while Victoria and Cortadura are classed as windy.
Frequently asked questions
What causes the Levante wind in Cádiz?
The Levante forms when clockwise winds around a high-pressure centre over central Europe merge with counterclockwise winds around a low-pressure centre over the southwestern Mediterranean. The flow is then squeezed through the 14-kilometre Strait of Gibraltar, where the mountain ranges on either side produce a strong Venturi effect.
Why is the Levante hot and dry in Cádiz?
In the Cádiz area the southeasterly wind drops its clouds and moisture on the mountains of the Strait, then descends toward the bay as a foehn wind. It reaches the coast warm and dry, which is why country people call it «matacabras», the goat-killer.
Which Cádiz beach is best sheltered from the Levante?
Playa de La Caleta, 495 metres long, sits inside the old town between Castillo de Santa Catalina and the Malecón to Castillo de San Sebastián, backed by the walls of the Casco Antiguo. Outside the walls, Playa de Santa María del Mar is a small cove protected by two stone breakwaters. Playa de la Victoria and Playa de Cortadura are both classed as windy.