prevailing wind

/ prĭ-vā′lĭng /

1. A wind that blows predominantly from a single general direction. The trade winds of the tropics, which blow from the east throughout the year, are prevailing winds.
2. See illustration at wind

Example Sentences

Unlike the prevailing winds in Southern California, which flow generally from west to east, carrying temperate air from the Pacific, the Santa Anas flow from northeast to southwest out of the Mojave Desert.

From Los Angeles Times

They say British institutions are being "battered by numerous prevailing winds", including stretched finances and restrictions on international students, which could make it hard to sustain its position in the future.

From BBC

Fortunately, large-scale firestorms are almost unheard-of in the area, in part because the region’s narrow canyons and strong prevailing winds act to direct gusts — and therefore fires — in specific directions.

From Los Angeles Times

Such shifts will require urban planners to account for prevailing winds and create breezeways that align with natural patterns to let air move between tall buildings and through the city’s corridors, said Pincetl of UCLA.

From Los Angeles Times

As the Salton Sea has become a fertilized petri dish, the prevailing winds have pushed aerosolized bacteria south to communities in the Imperial Valley where people have complained of respiratory issues.

From Los Angeles Times