The Levante is a warm, moist easterly wind that blows across the Strait of Gibraltar and along the southern and eastern coasts of Spain, originating from the Mediterranean Sea. Its name comes from the Spanish word for "east" (where the sun rises — levantarse). The Levante is one of the most characteristic winds of the Mediterranean basin and can blow with considerable force, reaching 70–100 km/h in the Strait of Gibraltar.
The Levante typically develops when a low-pressure system sits over the western Mediterranean or North Africa while higher pressure exists over the Atlantic. As the moist Mediterranean air is funnelled through the Strait of Gibraltar — only 14 km wide at its narrowest — it accelerates dramatically. On the eastern (Mediterranean) side, the Levante brings fog, low cloud, and high humidity to the Rock of Gibraltar and the Campo de Gibraltar area, while on the Atlantic side, the same wind arrives warm and dry after the Föhn effect over the Betic mountains.
Along Spain's Mediterranean coast (Alicante, Valencia, Murcia, eastern Andalusia), the Levante is associated with warm, humid conditions and can enhance precipitation when combined with upper-level cold air (DANA events). Surfers and kitesurfers prize the Levante at Tarifa, where the funnelling effect creates world-class wind conditions. The wind also plays a role in maritime navigation, affecting ferry crossings and shipping in the Strait. The Levante's counterpart is the Poniente, a westerly wind from the Atlantic that brings cleaner, drier air to the same coastal regions.