khamsin

views updated May 23 2018

khamsin A hot, dry, dusty wind that originates in North Africa and blows across Egypt, usually between April and June, ahead of depressions which move eastward or north-eastward in the Mediterranean Sea or across North Africa, with high pressure to the east. The term is also applied to very strong southerly or south-westerly winds in the Red Sea. See dust storm.

khamsin

views updated May 08 2018

khamsin Hot, dry, dusty wind originating in N. Africa and blowing across Egypt, usually between April and June, ahead of depressions which move eastward or north-eastward in the Mediterranean Sea or across N. Africa, with high pressure to the east. The term is also applied to very strong southerly or south-westerly winds in the Red Sea.

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