williwaw
Sudden coastal blast
A williwaw is a sudden, violent gust of cold wind blowing down from mountains toward the sea, particularly in coastal regions of Alaska, Patagonia, and the Strait of Magellan.
These squalls strike without warning and can be dangerous to small vessels: The williwaw nearly capsized our boat.
Islands near Cape Horn
- Cape HornSouth America's southernmost point
- Strait of MagellanChannel linking two oceans
- AndesSouth American western range
- ChileSlender Andean coastal nation
Magellan · Argentina · katabatic · downdraft · Torres del Paine · Southern Ocean · fjord · coastal
Of certain Alaskan islands
- KodiakAlaskan island and bear
- Bering SeaNorth Pacific marginal sea
- katabaticDownward-flowing cold wind
- downdraftDescending air current
coastal · fjord · glacier · Arctic · subarctic · Juneau · Kenai · polar
Brief, violent windstorm
- sailorSeafaring crew member
- marinerOne who navigates ships
- BeaufortWind intensity scale
- headwindWind against travel direction
sailing · schooner · ketch · yacht · rigging · helm · mast · deck
Descending air current
- mountain windDownslope nocturnal airflow
- descentDownward slope or lineage
- plungingDescending steeply and quickly
- accelerationRate velocity changes
channeling · ravine · valley · coastal · Antarctic · Greenland
Involving physical force
- abruptSharp and unexpected
- unexpectedNot anticipated beforehand
- unpredictableCannot be anticipated
- swiftMoving with speed
instantaneous · flash · startling · precipitous · unforeseen · spontaneous · fierce · intense
Tierra del Fuego
Islands near Cape Horn
- Cape HornSouth America's southernmost point
- Strait of MagellanChannel linking two oceans
- AndesSouth American western range
Magellan · Chile · Argentina · katabatic · downdraft · Torres del Paine · Southern Ocean · fjord · coastal · glacier
Aleutian
Of certain Alaskan islands
- KodiakAlaskan island and bear
- Bering SeaNorth Pacific marginal sea
- katabaticDownward-flowing cold wind
downdraft · coastal · fjord · glacier · Arctic · subarctic · Juneau · Kenai · polar · squall
squall
Brief, violent windstorm
headwind · sailing · schooner · ketch · yacht · rigging · helm · mast · deck · hazard
downdraft
Descending air current
- mountain windDownslope nocturnal airflow
- descentDownward slope or lineage
- plungingDescending steeply and quickly
acceleration · channeling · ravine · valley · coastal · Antarctic · Greenland
violent
Involving physical force
- abruptSharp and unexpected
- unexpectedNot anticipated beforehand
- unpredictableCannot be anticipated
swift · instantaneous · flash · startling · precipitous · unforeseen · spontaneous · fierce · intense · brief
williwawcalm
Free from agitation
stillness · dead calm · tranquility · tranquillity · peace
williwawsteady breeze
trade wind · prevailing wind · gentle breeze · zephyr · orderliness