Chapter 9
Wind: Small-Scale and Local Systems

Chinook

As winds descend a mountain slope, they warm up. If the descending air is warmer than the surrounding air, it is known as a Chinook.

• Record-breaking chinook occurred in Loma, MT, on January 14, 1972

• Bitter-cold airmass brought temperatures to -54*F

• Over the next day, the cold airmass moved out, and warm air descended the east side of the Rocky Mountains, bringing in a chinook

• In 24 hours, the temperatures rose from -54*F to +49*F --- a difference of 103*F!!

  • See a summary of this event at https://weather.com/storms/winter/video/record-swing-temperature-rose-103-degrees-in-24-hours