The Word "Chinook" is Native American for "snow-eater".  According to legend, Chinook was also the name of a beautiful young Indian woman who mysteriously disappeared while walking in the forest; many searched but she was never found, and while they were the men were searching, a warm breeze blew across the land, bringing with it the start of summer.

Chinook winds find their roots in the Pacific Ocean, and collect warm, moist air as they move up the Western slope of the Coastal Mountains and then cools down as they expand; this results in snow or rain from the accumulated moisture, and as the wind descends eastwards of the mountains, the air heats up under atmospheric pressure giving way to strong warm, gusty winds.

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Last modified: April 23, 2001