updraft

[ uhp-draft, -drahft ]

noun

Origin of updraft

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at up-, draft

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

In general, three bands developed, and the eastern band in particular generated a number of tornado warnings as embedded cells acquired rotating updrafts.
Inside the Annapolis tornado: How Ida powered this destructive storm | Jeffrey Halverson, Jason Samenow | September 2, 2021 | Washington Post
An unstable air mass and humid air mass, for one, which provided the buoyant energy for strong cloud updrafts.
Tornado hit Columbia Thursday, while straight-line winds slammed Fredericksburg | Jeffrey Halverson, Jason Samenow | July 30, 2021 | Washington Post
These could rob rising cloud updrafts of some of their buoyancy, weakening thunderstorm cells.
After producing several tornado warnings and funnel clouds, storms exiting region | Jason Samenow, Jeffrey Halverson | July 29, 2021 | Washington Post
If a thunderstorm cell was able to get going, then those strong wind changes could impart a spin to the updraft.
How a tornadic storm tore through West Virginia and parts of northern Maryland Monday | Jeffrey Halverson, Jason Samenow | May 6, 2021 | Washington Post
Instead, their water evaporates, creating a humid layer that makes it easier for air to rise quickly through the atmosphere as strong, storm-brewing updrafts.
Storm force | Katie McLean | February 24, 2021 | MIT Technology Review

Joe had found a strong updraft where a wind ran up the side of a mountain.
Mercenary | Dallas McCord Reynolds
They got the wind against their nose and started a humming dive, feeling in the alien updraft for the obstruction which caused it.
Lords of the Stratosphere | Arthur J. Burks
I could stand to have another hit ready when updraft petered out.
The Mind Digger | Winston Marks
Parodisiac was much too good to hold for the closing of updraft.
The Mind Digger | Winston Marks
Hail appears to be formed in the violent updraft of air at the front of a thunderstorm.
Meteorology | Charles Fitzhugh Talman

updraft

[ ŭp′drăft′ ]

An upward current of warm, moist air. With enough moisture, the current may visibly condense into a cumulus or cumulonimbus cloud. Compare downdraft.

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