A guide to the wind patterns of Lake Garda

Ora: the most famous Garda wind blows from the south and builds itself from many smaller winds that meet between Gargnano and Brenzone. It's quite regular and predicatble in spring, summer and autumn. Is's stronger and most reliable in summer because it of the strong sunrays reflected from the watersurface and the mountains around the northern part of the lake. The Ora starts when the Peler drops between 12 and 1.30 pm. and ends, in normal conditions, at sunset. Its wind force varies considerably.

Peler: It's the King of all Lake Garda winds, a "fine-weather" wind. It's constant and steady in June, July, August and September, and begins between midnight and 3 am. 

Peler brings three big waves, the biggest of these three is the second that is ideal for windsurf acrobatics. Bigger waves are to be found a little more south near Torri del Benaco and even bigger near Toscolano. The Peler lasts about 12 hours, but if it builds up stronger than its usual 4/5 Beufort, then it can last until 2 or 3 pm. It brings strong waves and stirs up the deep cold water from the depth of the lake bringing the water temperature down, so delaying the Ora wind to develop. In the late afternoon the water turns flat and a strong current conveys the water back north past Brenzone, Malcesine & Navene. Later in the evening the north wind builds up again.