hurricane-force wind

American  

[hur-i-keyn-fawrs wind, -fohrs, huhr-, -kuhn-] / ˈhɜr ɪˌkeɪnˌfɔrs ˈwɪnd, -ˌfoʊrs, ˈhʌr-, -kən- /

noun

1. a wind, not necessarily a hurricane, having a speed of more than 72 miles per hour (32 meters per second): the strongest of the winds.

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Example Sentences

Stretched thin by the Palisades fire and hurricane-force wind gusts, the Los Angeles Fire Department made a rare request to off-duty firefighters: Call in with your availability to work.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 25, 2025

Meet Saildrone Explorer SD 1045, a crewless craft designed to withstand hurricane-force wind and waves so scientists can study the superstorms that are becoming more frequent as climate change intensifies.

From New York Times • May 11, 2023

Initially the speculation was that the hurricane-force wind gusts that helped the fire spread at alarming speed had downed power lines.

From Slate • Jan. 2, 2022

The day also saw the most reports of hurricane-force wind gusts -- 75 mph or higher -- of any day since 2004, the Storm Prediction Center said.

From Fox News • Dec. 16, 2021

I grabbed hold of Belet before she was swept away by the hurricane-force wind and pulled her back inside the greenhouse.

From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda