Abstract Vertical velocity profile of the gusty Bora wind blowing on the eastern Adriatic coast is analysed based on the meteorological-tower measurements carried out during summer. Those high-frequency field measurements are taken at three heights up to 40 m. The observed experimental data in this near-ground layer are generally in good agreement with the power-law and the logarithmic-law approximations. However, the most fascinating finding is an increase in the power-law exponent, friction velocity and aerodynamic surface length with decreasing Bora wind velocity that indicates an urban-like velocity profile for smaller wind velocities and a rural-like velocity profile for larger wind velocities