1. Winds that blow from the northwest; prevailing winds in certain latitudes that move from the northwest toward the southeast.
Usage: plural noun; meteorology/geography; often capitalized when referring to specific regional wind systems

Examples

• The northwesterlies bring cooler air to the region during winter months.
• Sailors must account for the northwesterlies when planning their routes across the ocean.
• The northwesterlies are a dominant feature of the climate in the Southern Hemisphere.
• Strong northwesterlies can make coastal navigation challenging.
• Weather forecasters predicted that the northwesterlies would intensify over the weekend.
• The northwesterlies have shaped the local weather patterns for centuries.