cloudbursts

plural of cloudburst
as in rains
a steady falling of water from the sky in significant quantity the weatherman warned of possible cloudbursts in the afternoon

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of cloudbursts Last year, cloudbursts, floods and landslides caused significant loss of life and property across India. ABC News, 8 July 2026 The storm, which hit the New York area in October, 2012, unlocked billions of dollars in resilience spending, with hurricanes, rather than heat waves or cloudbursts, as the focus. Eric Klinenberg, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026 The whole experience tasted of the sea and the end of summer, punctuated by soft little cloudbursts on the palate. The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 29 Sep. 2025 Heavy rain is not uncommon in South Asia this time of year, but experts largely agree that the frequency and intensity of cloudbursts have increased in recent years, in part due to climate change. Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 21 Aug. 2025 Warmer air soaks up water like a sponge, and all this extra moisture can result in extreme rain and sudden downpours like cloudbursts, especially when that air meets the mountains. Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2025 Such cloudbursts are increasingly common in India’s Himalayan regions and Pakistan’s northern areas, and experts have said climate change is a contributing factor. Muhammad Sajjad, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cloudbursts
Noun
  • Research shows that extreme weather events, including heat waves, rains and melting glaciers, have become more frequent.
    Matteo Moschella, NBC news, 26 Aug. 2026
  • This wildfire season was supercharged by heavy rains in January that spurred vegetation growth, which became kindling when the summer heat arrived.
    Sam McNeil, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Barnard said studies have shown that Pacific storms generate about 30% more wave energy during an El Niño year compared to a year without the climate cycle.
    Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The storms are unlikely to reach the Kansas City forecast area, though there is a 10% to 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms late Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 25 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Cloudbursts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cloudbursts. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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