The bura (bora) and the jugo-siroco (jugo-scirocco) are the main winds on the Adriatic. They prevail in the winter period from September to May. The prevailing wind in the summer is the maestral.

The bora is a cold and dry north-easterly wind. It blows from the continent, i.e. from the eastern side of the Adriatic towards the open sea and brings bright weather. It starts abruptly and blows in squalls toward the sea. It is strongest in the Velebit Channel and the Gulf of Trieste. Picture shows typical "bura" corridors: (1) Golf of Trieste, (2) Kvarner, (3) Velebit Channel,  (4) Sibenik, (5) Split - Makarska, (6) Peljesac and (7) Dubrovnik. In the summer the bora blows as a local wind and then lasts only a few days. In the winter it may continue for six to fourteen days.

The jugo is a warm, humid east-southeast wind. It is accompanied by heavy clouds and rain. It is not a sudden wind like the bora but takes 36-38 hours to develop. It blows throughout the Adriatic. In the summer it may appear as a local wind and is more frequent in the southern part of the Adriatic. Between March and June it blows in the north as well.

The maestral is a local wind which blows from the sea, mostly in the summer. It usually starts between 10 and 11 in the morning and reaches its greatest strength between 2 and 3 in the afternoon to die down at sunset. It brings good weather. It is usually accompanied by white clouds.

Other winds

The burin, a north-easterly, blows in the summer from the mainland.

The tramontana is a type of bora; it is a northerly.

Another type of bora is the easterly levante.

Pulenat blows from west and lebic from south-west.