Southerly

Southerly

Southerly is the name of a storm or front of air coming from the south. In the Southern Hemisphere these can be cold and have bad weather. In Wellington, New Zealand these storms are normally short and frequently have winds gusting between 120 km/h and 160 km/h though higher speeds are known. In Sydney, NSW, Australia these events are known as southerly busters.

In the hot Sydney summer, the land heats up rapidly each morning, and faster than the sea. The prevailing wind is a light south west breeze that blows from land to sea, but by mid to late afternoon, the land rapidly cools and a north east convection current wind sweeps in from sea to land. This is a typical "Offshore Sea breeze", but often it is strong offshore gale bringing a rapid fall in temperature, and a short, violent rain/hail storm.

A more persistent but potentially violent Sydney NE storm is known as a "Black Nor'Easter" [The "Easter" refers to the compass point, not to the religious festival] . This is not a convection wind, but a storm system that develops offshore which can last several days. This is heralded by the rapid build-up of dense black cloud that can convert to a gale in well under one hour.

Occasionally, when there is a strong cold system to the south west, the temperature is broken by an equally violent storm-laden south west wind, and it is this that is known as a "Southerly Buster".

All these wind storms have been known to cause widespread damage onshore, and to sink small craft on the water. Yachtsmen on Sydney Harbour in the summer know to keep looking at the flags near Garden Island Naval base for the black flag that warns of these strong winds, to listen to the Marine Weather Channel 67 VHF and to watch for the "Roll Clouds" that precede the cold front ahead of a cold southerly change.


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  • Southerly — South er*ly (?; 277), a. Southern. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • southerly — ► ADJECTIVE & ADVERB 1) in a southward position or direction. 2) (of a wind) blowing from the south. ► NOUN ▪ a wind blowing from the south …   English terms dictionary

  • southerly — [suth′ər lē] adj., adv. 1. in or toward the south 2. from the south, as a wind n. pl. southerlies a wind from the south …   English World dictionary

  • southerly — [[t]sʌ̱ðə(r)li[/t]] 1) ADJ GRADED: usu ADJ n A southerly point, area, or direction is to the south or towards the south. We set off in a southerly direction. ...the most southerly areas of Zimbabwe and Mozambique. 2) ADJ: usu ADJ n A southerly… …   English dictionary

  • southerly — South southerly South south er*ly (Zo[ o]l.) the old squaw; so called in imitation of its cry. Called also {southerly}, and {southerland}. See under {Old}. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • southerly — I. adjective or adverb Etymology: 3south + erly (as in easterly) Date: 1551 1. situated toward or belonging to the south < the southerly shore of the lake > 2. coming from the south < a southerly wind > II …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • southerly — southerliness, n. /sudh euhr lee/, adj., adv., n., pl. southerlies. adj., adv. 1. toward the south: a southerly course. 2. (esp. of a wind) coming from the south: a gentle southerly breeze. n. 3. a wind that blows from the south. [1545 55; SOUTH… …   Universalium

  • southerly — south|er|ly [ˈsʌðəli US ər ] adj 1.) towards or in the south ▪ Tara walked in a southerly direction . 2.) a southerly wind comes from the south …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • southerly — south|er|ly [ sʌðərli ] adjective toward or in the south: the most southerly region of Spain a. a southerly wind blows from the south …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • southerly — adjective 1 in the south or towards the south: Tara walked in a southerly direction. 2 a southerly wind comes from the south …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

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