northerly
n.n. coming from the north or blowing toward the north. You use this to describe the direction of the wind or the position of a place.
n. originating from or blowing toward the north. Often used to describe weather patterns or geographic directions.
A strong northerly wind blew across the coast.
The hikers decided to turn back because a sudden northerly gust made the path too slippery.
The northerly jet stream shifted unexpectedly, causing a rapid drop in temperatures across the northern plains and disrupting the seasonal migration of local wildlife.
From norther + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Last updated May 18, 2026