Marine Weather API for the Mediterranean

Marine Weather Challenges in the Mediterranean

The Mediterranean spans from Gibraltar to the Levant, covering over 2.5 million square km of water with wildly varying conditions by region. What makes it uniquely challenging is the interplay of named wind systems, complex coastlines, and narrow straits that funnel and accelerate airflow in unpredictable ways.

Croatia's Adriatic coast, the Greek islands, and Turkey's Turquoise Coast host the largest charter fleets in Europe. Tens of thousands of bareboat and skippered charters depart weekly during peak season, and accurate marine weather forecasts are essential for safe passage planning and customer satisfaction.

Named wind systems define Mediterranean sailing — the Mistral, Meltemi, Sirocco, Bora, and Tramontana each bring distinct conditions that generic weather forecasts often miss. The sea is relatively enclosed, meaning waves build quickly but with shorter periods than open ocean swell, making them feel rougher than their height suggests.

For developers building sailing, charter, or marine tourism applications, the Mediterranean demands region-specific forecasting. A forecast for the Saronic Gulf won't apply to the Adriatic, and conditions in the Strait of Bonifacio bear no resemblance to the sheltered Turkish coast.

Get a Marine Forecast for the Mediterranean

Here's how to get an AI-powered marine weather forecast for the Saronic Gulf near Athens, Greece — one of the most popular charter sailing areas in the Mediterranean:

curl -X POST https://api.sealegs.ai/v3/spotcast \
  -H "X-API-Key: your_api_key" \
  -d '{
    "latitude": 37.7749,
    "longitude": 23.7613,
    "start_date": "2026-07-10",
    "num_days": 3,
    "vessel_info": {
      "type": "sailing",
      "length_ft": 45
    }
  }'

{
  "summary": "Good three-day window for a 45ft sailing vessel in
    the Saronic Gulf. Meltemi winds from the north at 18-22kt,
    typical for July. Seas 3-4ft at a short 4-5 second period in
    the open Aegean, calmer in the lee of islands. Excellent
    sailing conditions for experienced sailors. Note that
    conditions strengthen in open passages between islands.",
  "daily_forecasts": [
    {
      "date": "2026-07-10",
      "classification": "Good",
      "confidence": 0.88,
      "wind_speed_kt": 20,
      "wind_gust_kt": 26,
      "wave_height_ft": 3.5,
      "wave_period_s": 4.5
    }
  ]
}

The same request works for any Mediterranean coordinates. Use 42.6507, 18.0944 for Dubrovnik, 37.0343, 27.4305 for Bodrum, or 39.5696, 2.6502 for Palma de Mallorca.

Key Weather Parameters for the Mediterranean

The API returns a full set of marine weather parameters. For Mediterranean waters, these are especially important:

• Wind speed & direction — Named wind systems (Meltemi, Mistral, Bora) dominate; direction tells you which anchorages are safe
• Wave period — Mediterranean waves are typically short-period (3–6 seconds), making them feel rougher than equivalent height ocean swell
• Gusts — Wind acceleration between islands and through straits creates sudden gusts well above sustained speeds
• Visibility — Generally good but Sirocco winds bring Saharan dust that reduces visibility

Use Cases in the Mediterranean

Popular Mediterranean Coordinates

Here are commonly used coordinates for Mediterranean marine forecasts:

• Athens / Saronic Gulf — 37.7749, 23.7613
• Dubrovnik, Croatia — 42.6507, 18.0944
• Split, Croatia — 43.5081, 16.4402
• Bodrum, Turkey — 37.0343, 27.4305
• Palma de Mallorca — 39.5696, 2.6502
• Nice / French Riviera — 43.7102, 7.2620
• Barcelona — 41.3874, 2.1686