Mountains can act as a climatic barrier by blocking prevailing winds and trade winds from getting to the other side of the mountain.
The area that faces the winds is called the windward side. This side receives most of the moisture picked up by the winds from the oceans. This is why it is wetter on this side.
The LEEWARD side is a lot drier because the mountain blocks most of it and as the winds climb up the mountain, most of the moisture is well spent and fall on the windward side. By the time the wind gets to the other side of the mountain, they are dried up already. The <u>leeward</u> side is the area that faces away from the wind.
