It's that time of year again, where the winds are blowing and the temperature rises.

Chinook season has officially started for Airdrie and Southern Alberta and according to Environment Canada Meteorologist Kirk Torneby, the effects are pretty great.

"Obviously wind, temperatures that markedly increase by quite a bit of degrees. It can raise as much as over 20 degrees in a few hours with the onset of a Chinook."

Torneby said that certain areas such as the Foothills or the Crowsnest Pass experience greater winds because their geography creates a funnel like effect.

Whether you like them or not, Chinooks are here for a while.

"They really start to pick up in through the Fall season," said Toneby, "They continue on through the Winter season and into the Spring as well."