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Slide Notes

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West

Published on Nov 18, 2015

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PRESENTATION OUTLINE

Western US

Regional Weather Terms
Photo by blmiers2

Chinook Winds

  • Strong, dry winds that occur to the lee of the Rockies
  • Air warms rapidly as it descends the high mountains
  • Occurs across mountains in Montana, Wyoming and Colorado
  • Fairly common wintertime phenomenon
Photo by theqspeaks

Pogonip

  • Also known as ice fog
  • Forms when the air temperature is well below freezing
  • Composed entirely of tiny ice crystals that are suspended in the air
  • Occurs frequently in mountains valleys in Nevada, Utah and Idaho
Photo by Éole

Rain Shadow

  • The leeward side of a mountain or mountain range
  • Where less precipitation falls from one side to the other
  • Significantly less precipitation than the opposite, windward side
  • Occurs frequently east of the Cascades in Oregon and Washington
Photo by thor_mark 

Haboob

  • A dust storm which occurs along outflow of monsoon storms in the Southwest
  • Name originates from Sudan where storms occur over the Saharan Desert
  • Can cause travel delays and inhibit visibility
  • Hazardous to health due to the immense dust circulating in the air
Photo by rscottjones

Arroyo

  • Swift gullies that form during rain storms in the Southwest
  • Spanish name for stream
  • They are dry most of the time, but will drain excess water after a storm
  • Summer is the most dangerous time due to monsoon thunderstorms
  • The flooding of an arroyo is rare, occurring every 100 years or so

Santa Ana Winds

  • Strong, dry winds that blow in Southern California
  • Caused by high pressure sitting over the high California and Nevada deserts
  • The air dries out and often warms up as it descends the mountains
  • The winds can kick up dust and increase the wildfire danger
  • Highest winds blow through canyons, mountain gaps and over passes

Tule Fog

  • Low-level moisture trapped in the Central California Valley
  • The fog becomes trapped for days on end in the winter months
  • Leading cause of weather-related casualties in California
  • Visibility becomes poor, near zero, along the I-5 and Highway 99
Photo by emdot

Kona Storms

  • Slow-moving winter storms that impact Hawaii
  • Known as cold core cyclones
  • Affect Hawaii one to three times a year
  • Bring heavy rainfall, flooding, hail and landslides
  • Also induce high swells, large surf and waterspouts