GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KKCO) - Orographic lifting contributes to the snowpack in a way that differs from a typical storm ...

But in the case of Interstate 70 around the tunnels the terrain helped focus the flow of wind in a process called orographic lift, where air is forced to rise even higher into the atmosphere ...

In the satellite image of Hawaii above, the clouds are being caused by orographic lifting. That same "lift" mechanism can give precipitation a boost in the clouds associated with hurricanes also.