Bergwind (i.e. mountain wind) is the South African name for a Föhn wind, a hot dry katabatic wind blowing from the mountainous interior to the coast. It varies from mild (about 10km/h) to gusts up to 100km/h that cause structural damage. It is strongest in the western portion of the continent.

It is named after the Drakensberg mountain range, as it moves from inland to the coast and becomes trapped and forced under a cooler layer of air on the leeward side of the mountain range.

References

• Bergwind 1stweather.com
• Occurrence frequencies of minimum and maximum temperatures at selected aerodromes in Namibia

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