Banana Belt

The Kenai Mountains separate the bay below from the North Pacific by only 20 miles, or so, of high mountains. You can see the glaciers and mountains here obscured by clouds and heavy snow. It is a cauldron. While the near side, down wind enjoys clear blue skies and relatively warmer air, the moisture-laden airflow off the Pacific gives up its water content as snow. The air mass cools as it is pushed up the 4,000 foot mountains. In snowing heat is released, heat of condensation. The now drier air warms further as it rushes down the lee side of the mountains. On this side of the mountains, over the bay and on this side of the bay facing south we enjoy the warmth. Some call this the Banana Belt. This churning snow machine works nearly year round with the flow of maritime air over the mountains. The snow accumulation gives us the four glaciers obscured by snow in this picture and the Harding Ice Fields to the Northeast.