noun
- winds that blow from the west, especially the prevailing winds in the middle latitudes of both hemispheres
Usage: meteorology; usually plural
Examples
- The westerlies carry moisture from the Pacific Ocean to the western United States.
- Sailors in the Southern Ocean must navigate the powerful westerlies.
- The westerlies are strongest during winter months in the Northern Hemisphere.
- Weather patterns are largely influenced by the westerlies in temperate regions.
- The westerlies help explain why most weather moves from west to east.
- Pilots often use the westerlies to reduce flight times when traveling eastward.