wind shear

noun

: a radical shift in wind speed and direction that occurs over a very short distance

Examples of wind shear in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

El Niños typically yield lesser periods of wind shear (or hostile winds) in the central and eastern Pacific, DaSilva said. — Doyle Rice, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026

But this year’s El Niño has made wind shear unusually strong and widespread in the tropical Atlantic and Caribbean. — Chris Dolce, CNN Money, 31 Aug. 2026

Starting Friday, the strong wind shear that’s been swirling in the Atlantic all season and keeping most storms at bay is expected to pick up again, wearing away at Dolly. — Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026

Warmer sea surface temperatures fueled by El Niño and a lack of wind shear — horizontal differences in wind through the atmosphere — will allow Lala to steadily ramp up its maximum wind speeds day by day. — Sean MacAday, Sacbee.com, 13 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1895, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for wind shear

• adhere
• ameer
• amir
• appear
• arrear
• astir
• austere
• career
• cashier
• cohere
• compere
• emir

Kids Definition

wind shear

noun

: a radical shift in wind speed and direction that occurs over a very short distance