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wind shear
noun
: a radical shift in wind speed and direction that occurs over a very short distance
Examples of wind shear in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Role of Air Traffic Control Weather conditions and wind shear add further complexities to these turbulent airports.
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Barbara A. Perry, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025
Milton’s center was still nearly 300 miles southwest of Tampa when the first tornado formed near Florida City, about 180 miles southeast of Tampa just after 4 a.m.
The 'dirty side' of the storm
Dry air, instability and wind shear are the three main components for tornadoes, Hadi said.
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Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY, 19 Oct. 2024
Tropical Storm Gordon: Developed Sept. 13 but was hindered by wind shear and had minimal intensification.
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Brandi D. Addison, Austin American-Statesman, 23 Sep. 2024
Some studies have even found that climate change might suppress the formation of tornadoes by weakening vertical wind shear, a term that refers to the way winds increase and change direction at different atmospheric heights.
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Denise Chow, NBC News, 28 Dec. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1941, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near wind shear
Cite this Entry
“Wind shear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wind%20shear. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
Kids Definition
wind shear
noun
: a radical shift in wind speed and direction that occurs over a very short distance
More from Merriam-Webster on wind shear
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about wind shear
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