What is the Foehn Effect and why does it give dramatically warmer, sunnier days for some?

Sunshine and a welcome rise in temperatures have been putting a spring in the step of many this week - but the amount of sunshine and just how warm it will feel can be very different depending on where in the country you live.

And I'm not just talking the usual north/south split; conditions east to west - even just by a few miles - today and tomorrow are dramatically different! The reason? Something called the Foehn Effect.

So what is the Foehn Effect?

The foehn effect is a weather phenomenon that creates very different weather types on either side of a high ground due to the way the air modifies as it rises and then falls.

When moist air meets high ground, it is forced to rise, and as it rises, it cools, causing the moisture in the air to condense, creating cloud and rain.

That cloud cover, in turn, often gives cooler temperatures too due to lack of sunshine.

That now drier air then descends down the sheltered side of high ground, rapidly warming as it does so, resulting in a warm and dry wind on the downhill side. With less moisture in the air, conditions are sunnier and warmer.

That gives us the result of cooler, cloudier, wetter weather on the prevailing side and drier, brighter and consequently warmer weather on the sheltered side.

How often does it happen?

It can happen at any time of the year, but it is most obvious in winter and early spring.

How much difference can it make to our weather?

Potentially quite a dramatic one! Sometimes, the temperature difference on either side of the high ground can be more than 10°C.

How long will this last?

Certainly, the next couple of days. Make the most of any sunshine and warmer temperatures you see over the next few days, as signs point to colder weather returning from the north next week.

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