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Foehn Winds

Foehn winds are warm, dry winds that sometimes flow down the lee side of mountains ranges. Two well known examples of Foehn winds are the Chinook in the Canadian Rockies and the Santa Ana in California. Chinook roughly translates to ‘snow eater’, named for their ability to melt accumulated snow. Often occurring in the late fall and winter months, these winds can dramatically affect weather hundreds of kilometers away from the mountain range due to the strong winds and large, rapid temperature increases. In 1972 a Chinook wind caused an incredible temperature increase of 57°C (from -48 to 9°C) in Loma, Montana – the largest temperature change ever recorded over a 24-hour period.

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Foehn