updraft

[ uhp-draft, -drahft ]

noun

1. the movement upward of air or other gas.

updraft

/ ŭp′drăft′ /

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of updraft¹

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

Example Sentences

In general, three bands developed, and the eastern band in particular generated a number of tornado warnings as embedded cells acquired rotating updrafts.

From Washington Post

An unstable air mass and humid air mass, for one, which provided the buoyant energy for strong cloud updrafts.

From Washington Post

These could rob rising cloud updrafts of some of their buoyancy, weakening thunderstorm cells.

From Washington Post

If a thunderstorm cell was able to get going, then those strong wind changes could impart a spin to the updraft.

From 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.

From MIT Technology Review

Joe had found a strong updraft where a wind ran up the side of a mountain.

From Project Gutenberg

They got the wind against their nose and started a humming dive, feeling in the alien updraft for the obstruction which caused it.

From Project Gutenberg

I could stand to have another hit ready when Updraft petered out.

From Project Gutenberg

Parodisiac was much too good to hold for the closing of Updraft.

From Project Gutenberg

Hail appears to be formed in the violent updraft of air at the front of a thunderstorm.

From Project Gutenberg