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🧭 Facing north 💨 From the north ⬆️ To the north 🌬️ A north wind
northerly

northerly

1 2.8
Wind or weather that comes from the north
  • adjective
  • /ˈnɔrðərli/
translation icon : del norte
  • About one dozen northerly storms with winds of at least moderate gale force penetrate the southern Gulf Coast every year between November and April.
  • northerly winds

Examples

  • Ten acres with a northerly wind on it.

    Planes: Fire & Rescue (2014)

  • In the light northerly breeze, it moved off thirty meters south of the base.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • So, these are gonna be bands of really heavy snow and a strong northerly wind.

    Ordinary Angels (2024)

  • In a good northerly wind, a fine red dust would get blown into the houses.

    Blog text (11)

  • His entire fleet will take on half the French fleet, with northerly winds preventing the remaining French ships from joining the battle.

  • All six hawks were flying in a northerly direction, low to the ground, constantly wheeling and turning.

    Academic text (1990)

  • These clouds are associated with cold northerly winds flowing over relatively warm ocean waters (a balmy 48-50 degrees).

    Blog text (5)

  • The effect on the fishery was that about 40 percent of the crabbing area was eliminated, and fishermen could not dredge in the bay during strong northerly winds.

    Academic text (1990)

  • At this latitude, the water and air are certainly cooler than the tropics we are used to, but it is manageable, more so because we have had warmer northerly and westerly winds.

    Blog text (7)

  • The local forecast predicted a strong northerly wind that would bring cooler temperatures.

Synonyms

north
vsnortherly
59 1.0

Located on or coming from the top side of a map

is specifically used for winds or weather that come from that direction
northern
vsnortherly
58 1.1

Coming from the north, as with wind or weather

is used for various things coming from that direction, not only wind or weather

Antonyms

southerly
3.7

A wind that comes from the south

Surface Forms

northerly positive
northerlier comparative
northerliest superlative

Morphology

northerly = norther (transparent) = north + er + ly

The adjective meaning 'coming from the north' follows the regular pattern from the directional base with predictable suffixation (-er + -ly).

Etymology

Northerly combines north ('the north') with the ending -erly, an ending often used with winds to mean 'from', so a northerly breeze is a wind that comes 'from the north'.