Hazardous Conditions: Summer (June - August)

• Levante winds are the only hazardous conditions of recurring threat in the Rota area. Locally the winds are southerly and gusty. On average, maximum winds (30-35 knots sustained, 40-45 knot gusts) events will occur a couple of times each year. Weaker events are common a couple of times each month. Levantes typically last for only a day, but strong events have been known to last for eight days. Maximum wind speeds occur in the afternoons. Levante winds typically drop off at night.

• Winds of moderate gale force are the primary threat. Fetch length to the southeast is limited to 6 nmi. Maximum wave heights expected are 4-6 ft. Small boat operations are likely to be curtailed. Vessels with large sail areas are likely to be pinned against Pier 1. Levante events are associated with high pressure and strong low level inversions are common. Strong low level wind shear accompanies the inversion and can be a threat to low level flight.

• Anomalous radar and radio propagation is likely. Helicopters may lose radio contact at a few miles range.

• Heavy fog is rare, but light morning radiation fog is quite common, normally only reducing visibility to 4-6nm.

• Thunderstorms are extremely rare, and are normally associated with unseasonable polar intrusions with no more than one to two occurrences per month.

• Temperatures range from an average minimum of 62°F to an average maximum of 85°F. Higher temperatures do occur, but the prevailing sea breeze keeps the number of days with temperatures exceeding 90°F to only about one in seven.