Understanding Wind
Updated: Oct 21
Wind is undoubtedly a discomfort if not a danger to those who live in or visit the American West. Certainly those who venture into the mountain heights can attest to the threat of high winds, even without the storms that often accompany them. We will first take a peek into the science of wind and how wind works; then we will learn how to stay safe in windy conditions.
This is Jackson Lake in Teton National Park, Wyoming. We experienced some crazy wind while paddleboarding here this summer
Obviously, wind is moving air. The mechanism that causes wind is pressure difference. Wind always moves from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure. The question then arises, what causes these differences in air pressure? Well, pressure is directly affected by the temperature. Because the sun does not heat the whole earth evenly, pockets of cool or warm air will remain to “mix up” the air pressure. For example, when air near the ground is heated by the sun, this air rises upward, leaving an area of low air pressure. Cool, high-pressure air surrounding this “pocket” will whoosh inward, creating wind around the low pressure area (Wind 101). Something to remember is that the greater the distance between the differing pressures, the higher the windspeed will be (McCabe).
This same concept is the reason for what we call global atmospheric circulation patterns. These circular wind patterns begin with hot air rising from the equator and traveling north, where they are cooled near the Pole. The cool air then rushes south to replace newly warmed air near the equator. The cycle is reversed in the Southern Hemisphere (McCabe).
A forbidding storm approaches our campground in Boulder, Wyoming
In the end, the most important thing to remember about how wind works is that air is always forced from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure.
Now that we have a basic understanding of the mechanism behind wind, it’s time to study some specific kinds of local or terrain winds. These are winds that are directly affected and altered by the terrain, specifically mountains.
Katabatic Winds
The first kind of terrain wind is Katabatic wind. Although these winds have many local names, I have given the scientific names. Katabatic winds move down a mountain slope. They are formed by dense, cold air from the mountain heights being pushed down a slope by the force of gravity.
Katabatic winds are sometimes called valley breezes because they head down slopes into valleys. This kind of wind is most common at night.
Related to Katabatic wind is glacier wind, which forms when air is cooled near the surfaces of glaciers and then sinks into valleys. Note the fact that Katabatic and glacier winds can form temperature inversions – where cold air pools in valleys and traps in fog, smoke, or frost ("Wind 101").
Anabatic Winds
Anabatic winds move up a slope. These are warm winds that occur typically during the day. Another name for Anabatic winds is mountain breezes ("Wind 101").
Mountain Waves
A third kind of terrain wind is called a mountain wave. Mountain waves form when wind passes over a large mountain range and down the other side, bouncing as it goes. Once a mountain wave forms, the wind will remain stable for a long time, often forming lenticular clouds downwind of peaks.
Lenticular cloud over Fremont Peak, Wind River Range, Wyoming
Lenticular clouds, also called “caps,” resemble smooth, long mushroom caps and indicate precipitation within 48 hours. Mountain waves form during strong, persistent wind ("Terrain and Local Winds Explained").
More lenticulars over the Wind River Range
Gap Winds
Gap winds are a fourth variety of terrain wind. Gap winds are formed by wind channeling through a canyon or pass. Wind in and downwind of gaps in the mountains can be two times as strong as those over flat areas or peaks ("Terrain and Local Winds Explained").
Warm Downslope Winds
Our fifth and last kind of terrain wind is warm downslope wind. This is commonly known as a chinook in the Rocky Mountain region of North America and a fohn in the Alps and other regions. The chinook is common when mountain tops are receiving precipitation and is famous for melting snow due to its warmth. A chinook can become dangerous when it is strong enough to form a downslope windstorm. This kind of windstorm catches people unawares because it can form on a clear day ("Terrain and Local Winds Explained").
Wind Safety
There are a few guidelines to keep in mind when hiking and camping in windy conditions. First, if you have access to a forecast, it’s important to know what you’re looking at. A wind advisory is issued when 1) sustained wind is 31-39 mph for over an hour or 2) Wind is gusting between 46 and 57 mph ("Wind 101").
Another all-too-common storm approaching our campground in Wyoming
A high wind warning or high wind watch is more serious. This means that 1) sustained wind is over 40 mph for an hour or more or 2) wind is gusting to over 58 mph ("Wind 101").
The Beaufort wind scale, developed in 1805, is used to quantify wind speeds. The scale ranges from 0 (calm) to 10 (hurricane force at 73+ mph) ("Wind 101").
If you are caught in a windstorm, exit your tent. While this sounds counterintuitive, a tent will provide little protection and will obstruct your view of falling branches, thus keeping you from escaping in time. Try to find a thick stand of even-sized trees. Shelter behind rocks, bluffs, or hills, or crawl under a large tree trunk that has already fallen. Open clearings or shorelines are safer than forest (Renner).
Camping in the Wind River Range, Wyoming, at the end of September
Always keep wind in mind when choosing a campsite. Avoid camping beneath dead or dying trees, and face the small side of your tent into the wind. Keep upwind of passes or canyons to avoid notorious gap winds (Renner).
Wind in the Bible
Impressive waves off the Oregon coast
The story is told in the Bible of Jesus and His disciples being caught in a storm at sea. The disciples were incredulous because Jesus was sleeping, even while being tossed by the wind and waves! When the disciples woke Jesus up, He asked a strange question:
“Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” (Matthew 8:26).
Then Jesus got up, “rebuked” the wind and sea, and it was instantly calm.
The disciples were amazed:
“What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey Him?” (Matthew 8:27).
The Bible tells us what sort of Man this was and is. He is Jesus, God and yet man, powerful enough to calm storms, yet loving enough to bear our sin and die on a cross in our place.
This is the God we serve. How often we forget in the day-to-day to hear Jesus’ voice speaking directly to us:
“Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?”
Artwork by Joshua Venturo. Photos by Jenny, Daniel, and Joshua Venturo
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers, Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Works Cited
McCabe, Kirsty, FRMetS. “What is Wind.” Met Matters, Royal Meteorological Society, 27 Jan. 2023, https://www.rmets.org/metmatters/what-wind. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.
Renner, Jeff. Mountain Weather Pocket Guide: A Field Reference. Mountaineers Books, 2017. Pamphlet.
“Terrain and Local Winds Explained: Mountain, Gap and Downslope Winds.” Strange Sounds.org, https://strangesounds.org/terrain-local-wind-explained. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.
“Wind 101: Everything You Need to Know about Wind.” Earth Networks, Advanced Environmental Monitoring, https://www.earthnetworks.com/resources/weather-facts/what-is-wind/. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.
