also föhn a warm, dry, strong wind that flows down into valleys when stable, high-pressure air is forced across and then down the lee slopes of a mountain range —note 1. the descending air of a foehn is warmed and dried due to adiabatic compression producing critical fire weather conditions —note 2. a foehn may be locally called Santa Ana wind, devil (diablo) wind, north wind, east wind, Mono wind, and sirocco —see canyon wind, mountain and valley windsThis definition last updated 12/09/2008