Blue Ribbon (Kékszalag) Regatta: Windy Weather Forecast

MTI-Hungary Today 2022.07.13.

Compared to previous years, the weather is expected to be windier at the 54th Kékszalag (‘Blue Ribbon’) Raiffeisen Grand Prix sailing race on the lake starting Thursday, according to the National Meteorological Service.

Ákos Horváth, a meteorologist of the Siófok Storm Observatory of the meteorological service, wrote: “The weather of the race is determined by a large anticyclone with its center west of the country. A cold front is also expected to arrive at dawn on Friday, bringing with it a wind shift and increasing winds to the north. This strong northerly flow will moderate from the afternoon.”

Fact

Kékszalag (‘Blue Ribbon’) is an international long-distance regatta held in Hungary every year. The regatta starts and finishes in Balatonfüred, and it has become Europe’s most prestigious and oldest (the first was held in 1934) competition around a lake. The Blue Ribbon’s course is the longest among the main European ’round the lake events, and nowadays also has the largest competing fleet.

On Thursday morning, the winds will be light over the water with variable directions, gradually giving way to increasing southwesterly winds (20-30 km/h) in the morning. A light northerly wind will persist off the south coast. Towards sunset, the winds will weaken.

In addition, it will be variable and then predominantly sunny with likely no precipitation.

Daytime highs will be 26-27 degrees Celsius over the water and 32 degrees Celsius on the coast, with 22 degrees in the evening. Water temperatures will be around 24 degrees Celsius and around 25 degrees Celsius in the evening.

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On Friday, a cold front will arrive in the early morning hours, marked by a sudden northwesterly wind with strong gusts (45-55 km/h) and gusty gusts (60-65 km/h) in exposed areas such as the Bay of Islands. The strong winds across Lake Balaton will begin moderate slowly in the afternoon, but some strong gusts (45-50 km/h) may occur until the evening. Current forecasts suggest that the front will be mainly dry, but a shower cannot be completely ruled out, with gusty gusts (75-80 km/h) for short periods.

Behind the incoming front, clouds will increase with a small chance of showers or thunderstorms.

On Friday, daytime highs are expected to be around 25 degrees above the water and around 27 degrees on the coast. Water temperatures will be around 24 degrees Celsius, the meteorologist said.

The 54th Kékszalag will start on July 14th. Last year, 556 boats entered to complete the 150-kilometer aerial course on the Balatonfüred-Balatonkenese-Siófok-Tihany-Keszthely-Balatonfüred line.

Featured image via György Varga/MTI