In the area around Sharm El Sheikh, the prevailing north wind (“Shamal”) blows all year round, however it grows stronger in the winter months. Its intensity normally falls in the afternoon and during the evenings.
At times, the wind can become stronger and continue for 2-3 days. In the area around Sharm El Sheikh and Ras Mohamed, the winds tend to be moderate, with stronger gusts in Nabq. Around Dahab and Nuweiba, north winds are stronger and more frequent between December and March in particular. In the spring, one has to take into account the arrival of the “Khamsin”. In Arabic, “Khamsin” means “fifty”, signifying that this is a wind that blows for fifty days. The “Khamsin” is a hot, dry wind that mostly comes from a south-western direction. It can cause real sand storms in the western Egyptian desert and, when it reaches the Sinai, lead to very quick rises in temperature. Alongside the main winds, thermal breezes also have to be considered, caused by the differing cooling times of the earth and sea. The wind can have an influence on our activities on roads and when close to beaches. In the desert, we often carry out our activities in wadis, protected from the wind.