Chinook Facts for Kids

A Chinook wind brings warm air down the mountains.

A Chinook is a special kind of warm wind. It blows from the west, usually over the Rocky Mountains in Canada during winter. This amazing wind can make the temperature in places like southern Alberta jump up by 20 or 30 degrees Celsius in just one hour!

How a Chinook Wind Forms
- The "Snow Eater"
The Amazing Chinook Arch
- Colors of the Chinook Arch
See also

How a Chinook Wind Forms

Chinook winds happen because of how air moves over mountains. Here's how it works:

First, air from the Pacific Ocean moves towards the Rocky Mountains.
As this air hits the mountains, it is forced to rise.
When the air rises, it cools down. Any water vapor (like tiny water droplets) in the air turns into clouds and sometimes rain or snow. This process releases heat, which warms the air a little.
After crossing the mountain tops, the air starts to flow down the other side.
As the air moves downwards, it gets squeezed or "compressed." This compression makes the air much warmer.
This warm, dry air then spreads out over the flat land, called the prairie. A very strong Chinook can travel far, sometimes even reaching the eastern edge of Alberta.

The "Snow Eater"

People often call the Chinook the "snow eater." This is because it can melt a lot of snow very quickly. Imagine a huge pile of snow disappearing in just a few hours! This happens because the Chinook wind is so warm and dry.

The Amazing Chinook Arch

One of the most amazing things about a Chinook is the "Chinook arch." This is a special type of cloud that looks like a long, stationary band in the sky. It forms when air ripples over the mountains.

Even though a Chinook arch can sometimes look like a big storm cloud, it rarely brings rain or snow. Instead, it often creates beautiful sunrises and sunsets with stunning colors.

Colors of the Chinook Arch

The colors you see in a Chinook arch can be incredible. They often change throughout the day:

In the morning, as the sun comes up, you might see shades of yellow, orange, red, and pink.
Around midday, the arch usually looks grey.
Just before the sun sets, the colors change again to pink, red, orange, and yellow.