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southwesterly

southwesterly

1 3.9
Wind or weather that comes from the southwest
  • adjective
  • /saʊθˈwɛstərli/
translation icon : suroeste
  • During the warm phase of ENSO, an enhanced subtropical jet stream causes southwesterly winds to dominate over the Gulf of Mexico, bringing warm, moist air over land, which leads to above-normal precipitation in the southeastern USA.
  • southwesterly wind
  • southwesterly gale

Examples

  • A gentle southwesterly breeze swept through the garden, carrying the scent of blooming flowers.

  • We noticed the southwesterly winds picking up, promising a stormy evening ahead.

  • Between that and an approaching front, warmer air will be pushed our way on southwesterly winds.

    Blog text (26)

  • A damp, southwesterly breeze.

    The Namesake (2006)

  • During a southwesterly gale in the Bristol Channel on 3 December 2006, a 1.5-meter surge occurred.

    Academic text (2009)

  • So it is quite possible for a southwesterly wind to penetrate into the UK and Europe in a proportion of winter seasons despite a negative AO, AMO, and a quiet sun.

    Blog text (28)

  • The southwesterly wind brought a refreshing change in temperature as summer approached.

Synonyms

southwest
vssouthwesterly
1.0

Coming from the direction halfway between south and west

refers specifically to wind or weather from that lower-left map direction

Surface Forms

southwesterly positive

Morphology

southwesterly = southwest (transparent) = south + west + er + ly

Built from the common directional base 'southwest' plus standard adjectival/adverbial endings, so 'coming from the southwest' is a regular extension of meaning.

Etymology

When used for weather, southwesterly is built from south + west = southwest and -ly meaning 'from that direction', so a southwesterly wind is one that comes 'from the southwest'.