Winds of Baikal

Baikal is known by its winds, there are more than 30 winds there, each of which has its name. People say each wind has its own features. At the western coast the maximal speed of winds is noted from 8 o'clock till 16 o'clock, and minimal speed- from 18 o'clock till 24 o'clock. Some increase of wind speed is noted from 3 o'clock till 4 o'clock, and reduction of speed- from 5 o'clock till 7 o'clock.

The wind mode on Baikal differs in seasonal periodicity on direction and force of prevailing winds. In cold season at the coast winds from the land are dominated, in warm time- from the lake on the land, which is peculiar for seacoasts.

There are longitudinal and cross winds. The most known longitudinal winds are Verkhovic from the northern extremity of Baikal, Kultuk from the southern extremity; the crosswinds are Barguzin for the middle part of Baikal, Gorny from the western part, Shelonik for the southern part.

The maximal wind speeds on the lake are marked in April, May and November, the minimal- in February and July. The most windless month is June. Gales are usually at the end of summer and autumn. Autumn and winter periods since October till December- January, i.e. up to ice, are the most dangerous for navigation. At this time Baikal is constantly rough, and waves reach the greatest height - 5,5 m and more.

There are more than thirty winds at the Baikal each having its own name. “the Verk-hovik” or “the Angara” blows for quite a long time from the north to the south along the lake. It is followed by fair, dry weather and often drives “white horses” along the Baikal shore.

«The Kultuk» blows from the south to the north. It is followed by strong storms, dull and rainy weather. This is a short wind. Where the “Verkhovik” and “the Kultuk” meet the “tolkuny”, chaotic waves are formed.

«The Bargusin” is rather a strong wind and is the subject of the song “Glorious sea, Sacred Baikal”. It blows from the Bargusin valley across and along the lake an is fol-lowed by sunny stable weather.

«The Gornaya» is the name of western and north-western side winds that all of a sud-den start blowing from the Baikalsky and Primorsky ridges, These are insidious, short-time, violent winds.

«The Sarma» is a variety of “Gornaya”. It is the strongest and most fierce of Baikal winds gaining the strength of a hurricane. The wind blows from the valley of the river Sarma flowing into the Maloe More (Small Sea).

«Zavivki” (Curls) are local winds formed when a longitudinal wind is reflected from a big cape and is distinguished by the opposite direction.

«The Angara»is a typical diametrical wind that brings cold along the valley of the Angara. The wind draws a lot of precipitation both rain and snow.

“The Selenga” is a wind that blows from the Mongolian along the Selenga river steppes to the Baikal.

«Shelonnik» is a common wind in the sourthern Baikal, a typical fan that carries air from Mongolia through the Khamar Daban ridge. It is accompanied by fair warm weather.

«Pokatukha» is a wind descending from the Khamar Daban ridge bringing strong pre-cipitation as rain and snow.

Maximum wind velocities happen in April, May and November, minimum – in Feb-ruary and June. The wave formation at this time is continuos with wind reaching the height of 5,5 meters or more. Wave height record was noted in the Baikal north as 18 meters. 80% of summer storms happen in the second half of August and September. June is normally the quietest months as far as the wind is concerned. It is also rathe quiet in July.

The Baikal waves are steeper and more frequent that sea waves. That is why they are more dangerous since they not only shake the ship but can easily overturn it. Autumn and winter periods from October to mid January before the lake freezes over are con-sidered the most dangerous for water tours on the lake.