squall
Brief violent tempest
A squall is a sudden, violent gust of wind, often accompanied by rain or snow.
Squalls blow up quickly and pass quickly—sailors watch for them.
The word extends to any brief, intense outburst: a squall of protest.
Separately, to squall is to cry or scream harshly, as an infant does: The baby squalled through the night.
Brief wind surge
- galeSevere sustained wind
- blastSudden forceful burst
- blizzardViolent prolonged snowstorm
- hurricaneViolent tropical windstorm
typhoon · cyclone · thunderstorm · downpour · cloudburst · deluge · tempest · nor'easter
Brief wind surge
- windAir current outdoors
- blastSudden forceful burst
- draftPreliminary version of text
- breezeLight, gentle air movement
downdraft · updraft · airflow · turbulence · jetstream · shear · front · convection
gust
Brief wind surge
hurricane · typhoon · cyclone · thunderstorm · downpour · cloudburst · deluge · tempest · nor'easter · windstorm
gust
Brief wind surge
breeze · downdraft · updraft · airflow · turbulence · jetstream · shear · front · convection · instability
shriek
Shrill, piercing cry
bawl · screech · sob · weep · outburst · tantrum · whimper · yell · bellow · caterwaul
buffeting
Repeated striking or jolting
aviation · pilot · altitude · instability · shear · updraft · downdraft · airflow · vibration · fluctuation
scud
Wind-chased wisp aloft
seafaring · helm · deck · sail · rigging · mast · barometer · anemometer · foul · doldrums
squallcalm
Free from agitation
stillness · doldrums · fair weather · dead calm · lull
- snow squallSudden intense snowstorm
- rain squallBrief, intense windblown shower
- squall lineLinear thunderstorm formation
- white squallUnexpected marine windstorm