Answer:

Orographic precipitation, rain, snow, or other precipitation produced when MOIST air is LIFTED as it moves over a mountain range. As the air rises and cools, orographic clouds form and serve as the source of the precipitation, most of which falls upwind of the mountain ridge. Some also falls a short distance downwind of the ridge and is sometimes called spillover. On the lee side of the mountain range, rainfall is usually low, and the area is said to be in a rain shadow. Very heavy precipitation typically occurs upwind of a prominent mountain range that is oriented across a prevailing wind from a warm ocean.

orographic lift

orographic lift

Condensation, precipitation, and the rain shadow effect resulting from orographic lift.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Orographic precipitation

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Precipitation

Rain shadow

Spillover

Orographic cloud

The EDITORS of Encyclopaedia Britannica

This article was most recently revised and updated by Adam Augustyn, Managing Editor, Reference Content.

LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles:

rain shadow

Rain shadow, lee side of an orographic (mountainous) barrier, which receives considerably...…

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