2.1.7 Annual precipitation in complex terrain

The impact of terrain is clearly evident in this plot of the annual number of days of snow cover for the continental U.S. (CONUS). The areas of greatest annual snowfall coverage correlate with mountain ranges as well as latitude. Notice that areas within the Rocky Mountain region of the western U.S. have the most days with snow cover.

CONUS annual number of days with snow cover

Most mountain ranges in the United States are generally oriented north-south. Which side of these mountains would you expect to receive the greatest annual number of days of snowfall? Select the correct answer, then click Done.

The correct answer is b.

Due to the large-scale prevailing west-to-east flow aloft that drives midlatitude storm systems, the upwind (or west in the CONUS) sides of mountains typically receive several times the snowpack depth of downwind sides at the same elevation.