What is it about?
On 2 January 1999, a foehn wind event produced a narrow band of temperatures up to 10 degrees Celsius (18 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer than the surrounding area in the central Great Tennessee Valley downwind of the Smoky Mountains. This warming event caught forecasters by surprise, and was interesting in that the dewpoint temperatures rose along with the temperature (which is different than other documented foehn wind events around the world).
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Why is it important?
This particular event was interesting compared to other documented foehn wind events in that the dewpoint temperature rose substantially along with the actual temperature, resulting in little change in the observed surface relative humidity. Most other foehn wind events around the world experience air that dries significantly as it warms.
Perspectives
This warming event caught forecasters by surprise, and I was intrigued by the rise in dewpoint temperatures (which is different than other documented foehn wind events around the world).
David Morris Gaffin
National Weather Service
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Unusual Foehn Winds Near the Smoky Mountains, Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, September 2002, American Meteorological Society,
DOI: 10.1175/1520-0477(2002)0832.3.co;2.
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