1. The mountain wind of a canyon, that is, the nighttime down-canyon flow of air caused by cooling at the canyon walls. Because of the steepness of the slopes, canyon winds can be very strong. 2. (Or gorge wind. ) Any wind modified by being forced to flow through a canyon or gorge, especially by a strong pressure gradient as is the case with mountain-gap winds. The easterly Wasatch winds of Utah are examples. The speed of canyon winds may be increased as a jet-effect wind (see also gap wind), and their direction is rigidly controlled by the topography. 3. Same as Wasatch winds.