A warm, dry wind that descends from mountains, particularly common in the Alps and other mountainous regions, causing rapid temperature increases and sometimes dangerous weather conditions.
From German 'Föhn' or 'Foehn,' derived from Latin 'favonius' meaning the west wind. The word entered English from German meteorological terminology describing this specific Alpine phenomenon.
The fohn wind is so strong and bizarre that Swiss and German law actually recognizes 'fohn rage'—aggressive behavior caused by rapid pressure changes—making it one of the few weather phenomena blamed for crime!
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