Strong Winds on Mont Blanc

Provided and copyright by: Yasmin Angelique Walter, ERAC Germany
Summary Author: Yasmin Angelique Walter

After a very cold night and following a strong storm, the high mountains in the Mont Blanc region were engulfed in Foehn winds (downslope winds), swirling the fresh powdery snow aloft and mixing it with low clouds. Mont Blanc, seen here on the left, is both a mountain massif and the highest peak (15,771 feet or 4,807 m) in Europe. Located in the Alps, the massif lies along the French-Italian-Swiss borders. Other peaks within the massif include Mont Blanc du Tacul (seen here on the right at 13,937 feet or 4,248 m), Mont Maudit, Aiguille du Géant, Les Grandes Jorasses, Mont Dolent, and Aiguille du Midi. In mid August, several climbers were swept to their death by avalanches on Mt. Blanc. Photo taken on April 7, 2008.

Photo details: Canon EOS 400D camera, Tamron 70-300 mm lens. Special thanks to Claudia Hinz (Wendelstein Observatory) for her help with this photo.