gusting
Wind in bursts
Gusting describes wind that blows in sudden bursts rather than steadily: Winds gusting to 40 miles per hour.
Weather reports use it to indicate peak wind speeds above the sustained average.
The word captures the intermittent, unpredictable quality of strong wind—calm one moment, forceful the next.
Air current outdoors
- squallBrief, violent windstorm
- blastSudden forceful burst
- galeSevere sustained wind
- surgeSudden powerful increase
buffeting · blowing · howling · blustery · updraft · downdraft · crosswind · headwind
Having great strength
- suddenOccurring without prior notice
- violentInvolving physical force
- strongHaving great physical power
- fierceViolently intense or aggressive
forceful · intense · surging · pulsing · intermittent · sporadic · unpredictable · erratic
wind
Air current outdoors
surge · buffeting · blowing · howling · blustery · updraft · downdraft · crosswind · headwind · tailwind
powerful
Having great strength
- suddenOccurring without prior notice
- violentInvolving physical force
- strongHaving great physical power
fierce · forceful · intense · surging · pulsing · intermittent · sporadic · unpredictable · erratic · variable
buffeted
Struck repeatedly, jostled
tossed · scattered · whipped · rattling · flapping · swaying · uprooted · toppled · blown · disheveled
turbulence
Chaotic flow patterns
- crosswindLateral airflow across path
- headwindWind against travel direction
- tailwindBreeze moving your direction
windshear · landing · takeoff · bumpy · altitude · airspeed · cockpit · pilot · runway · flight