landfall

American  

[land-fawl] / ˈlændˌfɔl /

noun

1. an approach to or sighting of land.

   The ship will make its landfall at noon tomorrow.

2. the land sighted or reached.

3. a landslide.

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landfall British  

/ ˈlændˌfɔːl /

noun

1. the act of sighting or nearing land, esp from the sea

2. the land sighted or neared

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Etymology

Origin of landfall

First recorded in 1620–30; land + fall

Example Sentences

This year marked the first time in 10 years that none of the hurricanes that formed during the Atlantic season made landfall on the U.S. coast, according to the Swiss Re Institute.

From The Wall Street Journal

The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season ended on Sunday, and not a single hurricane made landfall in the continental U.S. this year.

From The Wall Street Journal

Also notable, it was the first time since 2015 when no hurricane made landfall in the United States.

From BBC

The same weather system that passed through Indonesia, now downgraded from a tropical storm to a depression, made landfall early on Friday morning, dumping more rain on the already-sodden region.

From Barron's

But weather authorities said Sunday it was unlikely the cyclone would make landfall and would gradually break apart in the coming days.

From Barron's