khamsin

9.9

A hot dry dusty wind from the Sahara that blows across Egypt in spring

noun
/kæmˈsɪn/

: khamsin

It was April, and the khamsin was blowing, a howling desert wind that lashed the streets with gusts of blinding sand.

Examples

During the khamsin, visibility dropped as the hot, dry wind filled the air with dust.
Local farmers often prepare for the khamsin, knowing it will bring scorching temperatures and swirling sand.
As the khamsin swept through the village, residents shut their windows to keep out the clouds of dust.

Synonyms

sirocco

vskhamsin

1 9.8

A hot dry wind from North Africa that brings dust or sand

is focused on Egypt and spring rather than general cross-Mediterranean events

harmattan

vskhamsin

1 9.9

A dry, dusty wind from the Sahara that blows over West Africa in winter

is a spring wind affecting Egypt, not the winter West Africa event

samiel

vskhamsin

Archaic

1 9.9

A very strong hot wind that blows sand across deserts

is a hot dry seasonal wind in Egypt, milder than this violent desert wind

ghibli

vskhamsin

Specialized

9.9

A hot dry wind from the Sahara that blows across North Africa

is limited to Egypt in spring rather than across broader North Africa

simoom

vskhamsin

9.9

A very hot dry wind full of dust that blows across deserts and can make breathing hard

is a seasonal Egyptian spring wind that is less extreme and dusty

levanter

vskhamsin

9.9

A strong east wind that blows in the western Mediterranean

is a Sahara spring dust wind reaching Egypt rather than an easterly sea wind

How Strong

gale

24 5.8

sandstorm

21 3.4

khamsin

9.9

wind

∞ 1.0

to breeze

1 1.0

Surface Forms

khamsin singular

khamsins plural

Etymology

Khamsin comes from the Arabic khamsīn, which means 'fifty' because these hot, dry, dusty winds were said to blow for about fifty days each spring. So khamsin today means the hot, sandy wind that comes from the Sahara and hits Egypt and nearby areas.