Košava (wind)

Košava (pronounced [kɔ̌ʃaʋa]) is a cold, very squally southeastern wind found in Serbia and some nearby countries. It starts in the Carpathian Mountains and follows the Danube northwest through the Iron Gate region where it gains a jet effect, then continues to Belgrade. It can spread as far north as Hungary and as far south as Niš.[1]

In the winter, it can cause temperatures to drop to around -30 °C. In the summer, it is cool and dusty. It varies diurnally, and is strongest between 5:00 and 10:00 in the morning. Košava is usually caused by a low pressure zone over the Adriatic Sea and a corresponding high pressure zone in southern Russia.[1]

The name is also used traditionally in northwestern Bulgaria to mean a southeastern or eastern wind.[2][3] There exists the saying: "When košava blows, the Nišava freezes".[4]

Speed and occurrence of the Košava wind have declined in the period 1949-2010.[5] The same study showed that Košava usually lasts for 2 or 3 days, 1-day events being very rare.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Kossava". Glossary of Meteorology, Second Edition. American Meteorological Society. June 2000. Retrieved 2007-03-11.
  2. ↑ "Народни умотворения и вярвания: Вятър" (in Bulgarian). Родово наследство. Retrieved 2008-10-19.
  3. ↑ "Какво ще бъде времето утре" (in Bulgarian). Caves / Пещери. Retrieved 2008-10-19.
  4. ↑ Иванов, Иван Танев. "Речник на оригинални старобългарски и диалектни думи и думи, свързани с българската етнография (к-л-м)" (in Bulgarian). Страница за прабългарите. Retrieved 2008-10-19.
  5. ↑ Romanić et al. (2015). "Long-term trends of the ‘Koshava’ wind during the period 1949–2010". International Journal of Climatology 35 (3): 288–302. doi:10.1002/joc.3981. Retrieved 11 March 2015.