Windstorm vs. Storm — What's the Difference?

Can lead to specific phenomena like derechoes.

Involves multiple hazards, including lightning and hail.

Primarily damages through physical force of wind.

A disturbance in the atmosphere that often involves precipitation.

Often lacks significant precipitation.

Recovery can be multifaceted and challenging.

Typically requires windproofing as a precaution.

Preparations often include a range of safety measures.

A meteorological event characterized by strong winds.

Can include various types like thunderstorms and snowstorms.

A storm with very strong wind but little or no rain or snow; a gale.

A storm is any disturbed state of an environment or in an astronomical body's atmosphere especially affecting its surface, and strongly implying severe weather. It may be marked by significant disruptions to normal conditions such as strong wind, tornadoes, hail, thunder and lightning (a thunderstorm), heavy precipitation (snowstorm, rainstorm), heavy freezing rain (ice storm), strong winds (tropical cyclone, windstorm), or wind transporting some substance through the atmosphere as in a dust storm, blizzard, sandstorm, etc.

A storm with high winds or violent gusts but little or no rain.

An atmospheric disturbance manifested in strong winds accompanied by rain, snow, or other precipitation and often by thunder and lightning.

A storm in which there are strong, violent winds but no precipitation.

A wind with a speed from 48 to 55 knots (55 to 63 miles per hour; 89 to 102 kilometers per hour), according to the Beaufort scale. Also called whole gale.

A storm characterized by high wind with little or no rain.

A heavy shower of objects, such as bullets or missiles.

A storm consisting of violent winds

A strong or violent outburst, as of emotion or excitement

A violent disturbance or upheaval, as in political, social, or domestic affairs

A violent, sudden attack on a fortified place.

A storm window.

To blow with strong winds and usually produce copious rain, snow, or other precipitation

To behave or shout angrily; rant and rage

To move or rush tumultuously, violently, or angrily

To assault or capture suddenly

To travel around (a place) vigorously in an attempt to gain support

To shout angrily

Any disturbed state of the atmosphere, especially as affecting the earth's surface, and strongly implying destructive or unpleasant weather.

A thunderstorm.

A violent agitation of human society; a civil, political, or domestic commotion; violent outbreak.

(meteorology) A very strong wind on the wind scale, stronger than a gale, less than a hurricane (10 or higher on the Beaufort scale).

(military) A violent assault on a stronghold or fortified position.

(impersonal) (weather it) To be violent, with strong winds and usually rain, thunder, lightning, or snow.

(intransitive) (metaphor) To rage or fume; to be in a violent temper.

To move quickly and noisily like a storm, usually in a state of uproar or anger.

(transitive) [army; crowd, rioters] To assault (a significant building) with the aim to gain power over it.

(transitive) to assault, gain power over (heart, mind+).

A violent disturbance of the atmosphere, attended by wind, rain, snow, hail, or thunder and lightning; hence, often, a heavy fall of rain, snow, or hail, whether accompanied with wind or not.

A violent agitation of human society; a civil, political, or domestic commotion; sedition, insurrection, or war; violent outbreak; clamor; tumult.

A heavy shower or fall, any adverse outburst of tumultuous force; violence.

A violent assault on a fortified place; a furious attempt of troops to enter and take a fortified place by scaling the walls, forcing the gates, or the like.

To assault; to attack, and attempt to take, by scaling walls, forcing gates, breaches, or the like; as, to storm a fortified town.

To raise a tempest.

To blow with violence; also, to rain, hail, snow, or the like, usually in a violent manner, or with high wind; - used impersonally; as, it storms.

To rage; to be in a violent passion; to fume.

A violent weather condition with winds 64-72 knots (11 on the Beaufort scale) and precipitation and thunder and lightening

A violent commotion or disturbance;

A direct and violent assault on a stronghold

Behave violently, as if in state of a great anger

Take by force;

Rain, hail, or snow hard and be very windy, often with thunder or lightning;

Blow hard;

Attack by storm; attack suddenly

Windstorms mainly cause damage with wind, while storms bring additional threats like flooding and ice.

A windstorm is characterized by high winds without accompanying precipitation.

Common types include thunderstorms, hurricanes, blizzards, and ice storms.

Storm preparation may also include flood management and securing against multiple types of damage.

The primary hazard is strong wind causing physical damage.

Securing any loose items outside and reinforcing windows and doors are crucial.

By securing loose items, reinforcing structures, and following local safety guidelines.

A derecho is a long-lived, straight-line windstorm that travels across a large area.

Typically, a windstorm does not include significant precipitation.

Through a combination of debris removal, water damage restoration, and community support efforts.