Buran (wind)

The Buran (Turkish: Boran) is a wind which blows across eastern Asia, specifically Xinjiang, Siberia, and Kazakhstan. Over the tundra, it is also known as Purga.

The Buran takes two forms: in summer, it is a hot, dry wind, whipping up sandstorms; in winter, it is bitterly cold and often accompanied by blizzards. Winter buran winds are strong and full of ice and snow. The sky is often laden with snow, which swirls about and reduces the visibility to near zero at times. In Alaska this severe north-easterly wind is known as Burga and brings snow and ice pellets.

The Russian Space Programme has named a class of rocket after the Buran (see Shuttle Buran).

References

• Buran on Winds of the World