The mistral is a well known katabetic wind, blowing in the Rhone-valley in Southern France.
It was known by the Romans, who called this wind "magistralis", masterful. It is also called Cierzo.
The mistral is a very cold, dry and powerful wind, which can blow up to 11 on the Beaufort scale, thus reaching average speeds of 100kph (60mph), and windguts of 150kph (90mph).
This cold wind develops when cold air from the poles blows to Southern Europe. Over the warm water Gulf of Genua a depression forms, causing larger differences in pressure and thus speeding up the wind. Another aspect is the fact that the wind is pushed through the mountains of the Rhone valley.

When the Mistral blows the sky is clear, only when the cold Mistral wind reaches the Mediterranean Sea it causes rain. The Mistral has a great affect on the people in the Rhone valley. They have to take the wind into account when they plant trees and built houses.

Opposite of anabetic. Colder air moves to a direction where hot air rises. This occurs most of the time at mountainious areas. See also: Katabetic Anabetic

The Beaufort scale is developed by Sir Francis Beaufrot in 1805. It divides the strength of wind in numbers from 0 (calm) to 12 (hurricane) See also: Beaufort scale