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A mountain can divide wet and dry
A rain shadow can form on the downwind side of a mountain range.
The idea
Air rising over mountains cools and may lose moisture as precipitation. Descending air on the other side can be warmer and drier.
An example
Two nearby valleys can have different rainfall because a mountain separates their airflow.
Put it into practice
Consider prevailing wind and terrain together.
Further reading: NASA · Earth Observatory ↗
Test yourself: Which side is commonly drier in a rain-shadow pattern?
The downwind descending-air side
Descending air after moisture loss can create a drier downwind region.
Explanation and illustrative examples by One Card Wiser. Source linked for further reading.
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