When you think of Foehn weather, you think of warm downdrafts in Alpine valleys. However, the phenomenon can occur worldwide – anywhere there are mountains.
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Curiously, a foehn wind blows on the leeward side of a mountain (downwind). It occurs because cold and very dry air sinks downwards and warms up quickly. However, to understand the weather phenomenon even better, you need to know what happens before:
- On the other side of the mountain, which faces the wind (windward), so-called slope rain occurs beforehand.
- Imagine the mountain acting like a blockage on the windward side. It stops the warm and moist air masses coming towards it. The moisture-laden air has no choice but to rise.
- The higher the warm air rises, the cooler it becomes. This results in the moisture condensing. This causes the typical, dense foehn clouds to form and the liquid comes off as precipitation.
Föhn: That's why there are warm downdrafts on the leeward side
After the clouds rain down the stored liquid over the mountain, the air can continue crossing the mountain. She is now dry and cold.
- Once this dry and cold air mass has left the mountain peak behind it, its high density becomes noticeable. Cold air is heavier than warm air.
- Because of this, the air on the leeward side of the mountain begins to descend. It heats up quickly. At the edge of the Alps, in the valleys, a warm and dry wind blows – the so-called foehn wind.
- By the way, the distant view is excellent with Föhn and even the smallest details appear razor-sharp because the air is not only very dry, but also very clean.