cloudbursts

plural of cloudburst
as in rains
a steady falling of water from the sky in significant quantity the weatherman warned of possible cloudbursts in the afternoon

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of cloudbursts Last year, cloudbursts, floods and landslides caused significant loss of life and property across India. ABC News, 8 July 2026 The storm, which hit the New York area in October, 2012, unlocked billions of dollars in resilience spending, with hurricanes, rather than heat waves or cloudbursts, as the focus. Eric Klinenberg, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026 The whole experience tasted of the sea and the end of summer, punctuated by soft little cloudbursts on the palate. The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 29 Sep. 2025 Heavy rain is not uncommon in South Asia this time of year, but experts largely agree that the frequency and intensity of cloudbursts have increased in recent years, in part due to climate change. Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 21 Aug. 2025 Warmer air soaks up water like a sponge, and all this extra moisture can result in extreme rain and sudden downpours like cloudbursts, especially when that air meets the mountains. Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2025 Such cloudbursts are increasingly common in India’s Himalayan regions and Pakistan’s northern areas, and experts have said climate change is a contributing factor. Muhammad Sajjad, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cloudbursts
Noun
  • In addition to the potential hurricane-force wind gusts, tornadoes are possible near the two islands, and heavy rains are expected throughout the main islands, the hurricane center's specialists warned.
    Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Damaging winds and heavy rains from Hurricane Lowell were pelting Hawaii's western islands early Tuesday, bringing the threat of floods, mudslides and tornadoes.
    ABC News, ABC News, 8 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Saharan dust, a mass of dry, dusty air, can inhibit the development of tropical systems and storms.
    Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Although an El Niño year doesn’t guarantee such storms will develop, the climate pattern tilts the odds in favor of a rainier-than-normal winter across Southern California.
    Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Cloudbursts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cloudbursts. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

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