The presence of south foehnlike conditions at higher elevations of the Alps while the lower elevations and the plains or “foreland” to the north are under a cold air mass. Under these conditions, the mountains are often warmer than the lowlands. The warming is attributed to subsiding air in a synoptic anticyclone above the cold surface air. Although the winds in the warm air are apt to have a southerly component, the high foehn does not necessarily have strong, gusty foehn winds. However, this situation often precedes the foehn at the surface.