The Port of Durrës usually obtains marine forecasts from NAVTEX, radio broadcasts and the Albanian weather agency in Tirana. U.S. Navy ships can obtain weather forecasts by calling the Port of Durrės on VHF channel 15 and requesting one. The forecasts contain wind, weather and sea condition information for periods of 12 and 24 hours. According to local harbor authorities, the countries of Croatia, Italy, and/or Greece--not Albania, originate the forecasts.
The inner harbor at the Port of Durres is well protected from seas from any direction. Due to its protected entrance, the harbor experiences no wave problems.
Wind directions at the Port of Durrės are locally identified as follows:
South and southeast winds:
Scirocco
Southwest winds:
Garbi
West winds:
Punente
Northwest winds:
Maestro
Garbi (southwesterly) and Punente (westerly) winds of 39 kt (20 m/sec) cause the most trouble at the Port of Durrës. When wind speeds reach 33 kt (17 m s-¹) or greater, port operations are stopped because of the effect of the wind on harbor cranes. Harbor pilots will cease work at the same wind threshold.
The following guidelines can be used as aids in forecasting some of the wind phenomena experienced at the Port of Durrës.
Due to topographic differences, the strong northeasterly Bora winds that are commonly observed along the Adriatic coast in northern Italy, Slovenia and Croatia are not experienced at Durrës. However, when Bora conditions occur in association with a cyclonic weather pattern, the strongest winds will be found in the southern half of the Adriatic Sea. The maximum southward extent of Bora conditions appears to be about 60 nmi south of the Strait of Otranto, between Italy and southern Albania.
The onset of the Scirocco in the Adriatic Sea is usually gradual. The Scirocco is almost always associated with low pressure systems that have tight pressure gradients on their eastern sides. The Scirocco is especially associated with the North African cyclone. A 10 mb pressure difference between Cape Santa Maria Di Leuca at the southern end of the Adriatic Sea and Treviso/St. Angelo at the north end of the Adriatic sea, with Cape Santa Maria Di Leuca being higher, will produce Scirocco winds of 30-35 kt. The frequency of gale force Scirocco winds (greater than or equal to 34 kt) in the Adriatic decreases northward. The direction of the Scirocco tends to be southerly near the entrance to the Adriatic Sea, and easterly along the northern part of the western shore. Wind velocity reported at the island of Palagruza (Pelagosa) is very representative of wind velocity over the surrounding sea area.
During a Scirocco, heavy fog can be expected over the Adriatic Sea north of the island of Palagruza (Pelagosa), especially from October to January.
If large amounts of cold air penetrate the Po Valley from the northeast, cyclogenesis is expected in the Gulf of Genoa. If formed, this cyclone will generally move southeastward along the west coast of Italy. However, if little cold air penetrates the Po Valley from the northeast while a strong push occurs in the Gulf of Lion, cyclogenesis will probably take place in the Gulf of Venice. If formed, this cyclone may move southeastward through the Adriatic Sea.