Mistral is a cold, northerly or northwesterly katabatic wind flowing into the Gulf of Lion from the southern coast of France. ... In the winter, wind speeds can reach over 100 knots off the southern coast of France.

What type of wind is the mistral?

mistral, Italian maestrale, cold and dry strong wind in southern France that blows down from the north along the lower Rhône River valley toward the Mediterranean Sea.

Where are katabatic winds found?

Katabatic winds are most commonly found blowing out from the large and elevated ice sheets of Antarctica and Greenland. The buildup of high density cold air over the ice sheets and the elevation of the ice sheets brings into play enormous gravitational energy.