westerly

Everyday

1. A westerly wind blows from the west. tree →
2. Westerly also means towards the west or in the west, as in a westerly direction. tree →
3. The westerlies are strong winds that blow from the west in the middle parts of the Earth. tree →

In the lessons

In geography and weather forecasts, wind names tell where the wind comes FROM: a westerly comes from the west. Britain and Ireland get mostly westerly winds from the Atlantic, bringing rain. Sailors, pilots and hikers use these words. In New Zealand and southern Australia the westerlies are strong.

Examples

• A westerly wind brought rain from the Atlantic. tree →
• The westerlies blow across the southern oceans. tree →
• We sailed in a westerly direction. tree →
• The most westerly point of Ireland is on the Dingle Peninsula. tree →
• Strong westerlies are forecast for tomorrow. tree →
• The kite flew well in the westerly breeze. tree →

Note

Trap: a westerly wind comes from the west and blows towards the east. Plural noun: westerlies. Similar words: easterly, northerly, southerly. Westerly is a bit more formal than west wind.