@cwaughtech The chinook phenomenon occurs over a wide region all at once - even up to the Grande Prairie region. So Calgary and Lethbridge would get the same chinook event, but Lethbridge tends to get stronger winds and higher temperatures from the same chinook event. The winds are so strong towards the Crow's Nest Pass that in Pincher Creek there are mobile homes that are cabled down to prevent them from tipping over.
@canadianentropy That is absolutely insane! Does the Chinook arch mean the Chinook is coming soon? Is there any way of knowing when it will come when you see the arch?
@cwaughtech That's exactly right. You can see the arch firming in the southwest, and know warm air is coming. How long it takes depends partly on the strength of the system, but it usually shows arrives in a couple of hours in our area.
The chionook is a wind and associated cloud formation. They are formed when warm Pacific air passes over the Rocky mountains. The moisture is deposited in the mountains, but the air gets compressed due to the elevation gain. The result is a warming of the air due to adiabatic compression. When the winds emerge from the mountains and heads out over the foothills and the prairies it raises the temperature. A welcome relief for Canadian winters.
It is basically the same thing - just without the umlaut. :) And I assume that the Americans call it a chinook also; chinook winds are what we have always called it. :)
The chinooks are always a relief from the cold. In the past few weeks we've been getting one after another. As a result, we're considerably warmer than the average. Last week there were a couple of days where the high was in the double digits.
Does Lethbridge get more chinooks than Calgary or is it fairly similar?
cwaughtech 5 months ago
@cwaughtech The chinook phenomenon occurs over a wide region all at once - even up to the Grande Prairie region. So Calgary and Lethbridge would get the same chinook event, but Lethbridge tends to get stronger winds and higher temperatures from the same chinook event. The winds are so strong towards the Crow's Nest Pass that in Pincher Creek there are mobile homes that are cabled down to prevent them from tipping over.
canadianentropy 5 months ago
@canadianentropy That is absolutely insane! Does the Chinook arch mean the Chinook is coming soon? Is there any way of knowing when it will come when you see the arch?
cwaughtech 5 months ago
@cwaughtech That's exactly right. You can see the arch firming in the southwest, and know warm air is coming. How long it takes depends partly on the strength of the system, but it usually shows arrives in a couple of hours in our area.
Always a welcome sight after a cold snap! :)
canadianentropy 5 months ago
@canadianentropy I know a bit because my uncle lives in Calgary. Do you live in the city of Lethbridge ?
cwaughtech 5 months ago
@cwaughtech I'm in the Red Deer area.
canadianentropy 5 months ago
This is a beautiful video, and starting around 2:45 it becomes truly magical!
I grew up in Alberta and I remember what a treat Chinooks were in the dead of winter! :o)
arjay9 1 year ago
...being from Aus I'm not up with the meaning of 'chinook' - looks great but what are they?...
GeoffJennyOliver 2 years ago
The chionook is a wind and associated cloud formation. They are formed when warm Pacific air passes over the Rocky mountains. The moisture is deposited in the mountains, but the air gets compressed due to the elevation gain. The result is a warming of the air due to adiabatic compression. When the winds emerge from the mountains and heads out over the foothills and the prairies it raises the temperature. A welcome relief for Canadian winters.
The chinook effect is also found in the US.
canadianentropy 2 years ago
So basically it's the same thing as a Foehn/Föhn wind? but then an American name for it, I assume...
Vleertouwer 2 years ago
It is basically the same thing - just without the umlaut. :) And I assume that the Americans call it a chinook also; chinook winds are what we have always called it. :)
canadianentropy 2 years ago
I lived in Calgary for awhile and the Chinooks were certainly a highlight - especially when it was -30!
Thanks for refreshing great memories.
entropious88 2 years ago
The chinooks are always a relief from the cold. In the past few weeks we've been getting one after another. As a result, we're considerably warmer than the average. Last week there were a couple of days where the high was in the double digits.
canadianentropy 2 years ago
I like the end where the sun lights up the edge of the arch.
andysoftvideos 2 years ago
That's also the best part live, too. It's a big mood uplift; especially in winter.
canadianentropy 2 years ago