What is the name of the North African wind that blows into the southern Mediterranean basin?

The name of the wind is "Sirocco". Along the north African coast, the hot air originated directly from the Sahara desert, produces hot, dry, and dusty conditions. Visibility becomes very poor and the fine blowing dust might result in damage to instruments and equipment. On rare occasions, the Sirocco picks up enough dust and sand to produce sandstorms.

As the air travels northward across the Mediterranean Sea, the Sirocco picks up much moisture because of its high temperature and reaches Spain (where it is known as "Leveche", "Solano", "Jaloque" or "Xaloque"), Portugal as "Xaroco", France as "Marin", Malta, Sicily, southern Italy as "Scirocco", Croatia as "Jugo" and even Greece as a very enervating, hot, humid wind.

As it travels northward, it causes clouds, fog, and rain over northern Mediterranean areas. The hot humid wind causes overnight temperatures of 30 degrees Celsius and above. Extreme temperature differences may occur with the following cold front and its dust may reach even Britain and northern Europe.

Sirocco events tend to occur year-round without a favored month or season. However, strong gale-force siroccos are most common during the spring. The average duration of continuous gale force winds during a Scirocco is 10 to 12 hours and occasionally as long as 36 hours.