Winds

Trade Winds

Steady current of air blowing towards the equator from the north east and the south east.

Monsoon

Seasonal winds which blow briefly over India, Indo-China, China & North-west Australia; brings summer rains and winter drought.

Westerlies

Regular winds which blow outside of the tropics in the temperate zones; refers to the irregular winds in the temperate zone.

Chinook

Hot or dry wind on the eastern or leeward side of the Rocky Mountains that heats as it descends.

Sirocco

Hot moist wind blowing from the Sahara Desert to Italy.

Solano

Hot moist wind which blows from the Sahara Desert to the Iberian Peninsula.

Harmattan

Hot dry wind blowing from the interior of West Africa.

Mistral

Very cold wind that blows down from the plateau of central France into the Gulf of Lyons.

Bora

Cold dry wind blowing outwards from Hungary to the north of Italy.

Punas

Cold dry wind blowing down on the western side of the Andes.

Cyclones

Irregular local winds that swirl around a low pressure area; chiefly found in latitudes 35 to 60 (doldrums).

Anticyclone

Irregular local winds that swirl around a high pressure area.

Hurricane

A severe tropical storm revolving around a low pressure area, usually with winds of 160 to 240 km/h.

Blizzard

Blinding storm of snow and wind common in polar regions.

Typhoon

Name given to cyclones which occur over the China seas.

Ocean Current

Streams of water crossing the oceans following the direction of the prevailing winds.

Tornadoes

Violent cyclonic storms occurring in some parts of the United States, causing great destruction.

Jet Streams

Narrow band of very fast winds found at altitudes of 10-16 km in the upper troposphere.

Pampero

Cold dry winds blowing from the west, southwest, or south on the pampas in southern Argentina.

Doldrums

Equatorial belt within which trade wind zones converge.

Canerie Current

A wind-driven surface current that is part of the North Atlantic Gyre.

Willy Willies

Name given to the tropical cyclones off the coast of Queensland, Australia.

Benguella

Cold ocean current flowing north along the western coast of South Africa.

Levanto

Hot southeasterly wind which blows over the Canary Islands.

Norte

Strong cold northeasterly wind that blows along the shores of the Gulf of Mexico.