straight-line wind

noun

: a powerful, fast-moving surface wind that lacks a rotational pattern and that can cause widespread damage

Examples of straight-line wind in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The agency also confirmed straight-line wind damage in Garland, with winds reaching 75 mph. Jamie Landers, Dallas News, 17 Mar. 2023 Derecho damage is frequently referred to as straight-line wind damage. Emma Tucker, CNN, 27 Feb. 2023 Damaging straight-line wind is the main threat, but a tornado or two is also possible. Emily Deletter, The Enquirer, 10 Dec. 2021 The center is warning of a forthcoming squall line with embedded tornadoes and pockets of straight-line wind damage. Matthew Cappucci, Ben Brasch and Scott Dance, Anchorage Daily News, 25 Jan. 2023 In addition to the tornadoes, there were also two areas of widespread straight-line wind damage. Leigh Morgan, al, 14 Jan. 2023 But again, the main concern will be for damaging straight-line wind gusts. Dallas News, 29 Mar. 2022 Damaging straight-line wind gusts and large hail are the primary threats from Wednesday’s systems but a couple of embedded tornadoes are also possible. Leada Gore | Lgore@al.com, al, 5 Apr. 2022 Tuesday and Wednesday are shaping up to be highly volatile, with over 100 million people in the path of severe storms — which are expected to deliver destructive hail, strong tornadoes and damaging straight-line wind gusts. NBC News, 12 Apr. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'straight-line wind.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1849, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of straight-line wind was in 1849

Dictionary Entries Near straight-line wind

Cite this Entry

“Straight-line wind.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/straight-line%20wind. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

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