Widespread thermo-topographic winds are shown to produce marked diurnal and seasonal oscillations of the lower boundary layer of the atmosphere over the central Namib desert. By night in winter, extensive south-easterly to easterly advection of cool air in mountain and mountain-plain winds occurs down the Kuiseb valley at Gobabeb and between the plateau and coastal regions. By day, and most strongly in summer, reverse local winds predominate. Inland penetration of the sea breeze to Gobabeb is shown to be confined to the late afternoon. Berg winds appear to be most frequent during the morning prior to the onset of valley and plain-mountain winds.