Great storms, fed by strong gusts of wind off the surrounding mountains, are common on the Sea of Galilee, which lies 208 metres below sea level. The Greek word seismos in Matthew 8:24 typically refers to earth tremors, but here it refers to a sea storm probably caused by the great wind that accompanied it (Mark 4:37, Luke 8:23).
Yes, strong gusts of wind are typical in the low-laying Sea of Galilee, which lies no less than 208 metres below altitude. The wind coming up along the mountainside with great force often effectuates a great storm at sea. The Greek word used here in Matthew 8:24, seismos, typically referred to an earthquake or its aftershock. Here, however, it is used to refer to a storm at sea which is accompanied by a great wind (Mark 4:37, Luke 8:23), which had probably caused the storm in the first place.1
24 Et voici, il s'éleva sur la mer une si grande tempête que la barque était couverte par les flots. Et lui, il dormait.