What is a katabatic wind?
Katabatic winds occur where cold, heavy air flows down the slopes of the inland mountains and the ice plateau. This is a frequent phenomenon as the continent is dome-shaped and the interior is very cold. As a surface flow, these winds may be smooth and low in velocity, but there are many times when they become exceedingly turbulent, sweeping up any loose snow in their path. This fierce, turbulent air may suddenly just appear and produce localized Antarctic blizzards, where the skies are still clear and no snow actually falls to the ground.
