How Do Mountains Affect Weather Patterns?

Mountains act like a giant filter for the weather. When wind hits a mountain, it pushes air up the side, this makes clouds form and rain fall on one side. But when the air goes down the other side, it gets warmer and drier, so that side stays sunny and dry.

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Examples

A mountain range blocks rain from reaching a desert on one side.
Snow falls on the north side of a mountain but melts quickly on the south.
A town near a mountain gets rain every day, while the other side is dry and dusty.

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Categories: Environment · weather,mountains,climate