Weather Tidbits: Orographic Lifting

This edition of Weather tidbits will be discussing orographic lifting. Orographic lifting occurs when moist, warm air hits a mountain and is forced upward. As the air rises, it cools and expands, which causes moisture to condense into precipitation. If the moist flow is consistent enough, this could lead to persistent rainfall and flooding issues as the air continues to be forced up by the terrain. This occurs on the windward side of the mountain. As the cool air passes over the mountain, it then begins to sink. The air then dries, compresses, and warms as it descends along the leeward side of the mountain where deserts are usually found.