windstorms
Powerful atmospheric disturbances
Windstorms are storms characterized by high winds with little or no precipitation.
The term covers various phenomena—gales, cyclones, dust storms—where wind is the dominant destructive force: The windstorms knocked down power lines across the county.
Insurance policies often distinguish windstorm damage from other weather-related claims.
Sudden bursts of air
- howlingProlonged mournful crying sound
- roaringMaking prolonged loud noise
- whistlingBlowing air tunefully
- swirlingTurning in curves
battering · relentless · fierce · violent · turbulent · whipping · billowing · driving rain
Severe sustained wind
- squallBrief, violent windstorm
- tempestViolent windstorm or turmoil
- cycloneRotating low-pressure storm system
- hurricaneViolent tropical windstorm
typhoon · tornado · derecho · blizzard · nor'easter · monsoon · haboob · sirocco
Harm or impairment
- devastationSevere widespread destruction
- debrisScattered broken fragments
- downed power linesFallen electrical cables
- structural collapseFramework giving way
fallen trees · flooding · erosion · property loss · blackout · emergency · evacuation · shelter
Alert about danger
- alertWarning or watchfulness
- forecastPrediction of future conditions
- evacuationRemoval from danger
- shelterProtected place or structure
supplies · generator · flashlight · batteries · sandbags · emergency kit · weather radio · insurance
gusts
Sudden bursts of air
- howlingProlonged mournful crying sound
- roaringMaking prolonged loud noise
- whistlingBlowing air tunefully
swirling · battering · relentless · fierce · violent · turbulent · whipping · billowing · driving rain · dark skies
gale
Severe sustained wind
- squallBrief, violent windstorm
- tempestViolent windstorm or turmoil
- cycloneRotating low-pressure storm system
hurricane · typhoon · tornado · derecho · blizzard · nor'easter · monsoon · haboob · sirocco · mistral
damage
Harm or impairment
- devastationSevere widespread destruction
- debrisScattered broken fragments
- downed power linesFallen electrical cables
fallen trees · structural collapse · flooding · erosion · property loss · blackout · emergency · evacuation · shelter · recovery
warning
Alert about danger
- alertWarning or watchfulness
- forecastPrediction of future conditions
- evacuationRemoval from danger
shelter · supplies · generator · flashlight · batteries · sandbags · emergency kit · weather radio · insurance · stockpile
- disastersdisaster, earthquake, earthquakes, catastrophe, floods
- northern weatherblizzard, blizzards, snowfall, cold snap, cold
- winter weatherblizzards, blizzard, snow, snowstorm, snowstorms
windstormscalm
Free from agitation
stillness · gentle breezes · zephyrs · mild weather · still air
windstormsdead calm
Complete absence of wind
fair weather · clear skies · becalmed · settled weather · windlessness