Peter Dexter
Well-known member
This is a late afternoon view of the eastern slope of the Western Cordillera of the Andes. The Pacific ocean lies on the other side of these clouds. Every day winds from the west blow clouds eastward over the ocean until they encounter the western slope of the Andes at which point they are forced up into much colder air. As a result they condense and produce rain on the western side but as they crest the cordillera they enter a rain shadow over the high and dry valley of Cauca. This cloud build up at the crest is a daily afternoon event that I get to view as I drive up the mountain towards home from the city of Cali.