A local wind created by temperature differences between land and sea. Land heats faster than water, causing air to rise over land and drawing cooler sea air in to replace it.
Thermal wind — also called a sea breeze — is what makes many inland and coastal spots rideable. As the sun heats the land during the day, warm air rises, creating low pressure. Cooler air from over the water rushes in to fill the gap, generating wind that builds through the day and dies at sunset.
Lake Garda's famous Ora wind is a textbook thermal. Lefkada's afternoon wind is thermal-driven. The beauty of thermal wind is its predictability — you can almost set your watch by it.
Thermals typically start light in late morning, build to peak strength mid-to-late afternoon, and drop off as the land cools in the evening. This gradual build makes thermal spots excellent for learning, as beginners can start in lighter morning wind.
Example usage
"The thermal kicked in around 1pm — started at 12 knots and built to 20 by 4pm. Like clockwork."
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