landfall

The moment or place where a storm moving over the sea reaches land.

• The hurricane made landfall last night.
• Strong winds damaged homes near the point of landfall.
• Forecasters expect landfall along the southern coast.

How to use it: make landfall in/near somewhere (The storm made landfall near the capital.)

Common phrases: make landfall, hurricane landfall, landfall near somewhere

The arrival of a ship at land, or the first sight of land from a ship.

• The ship made landfall at dawn.
• Our first landfall was a small island.
• After weeks at sea, the crew celebrated landfall.

How to use it: make landfall at/in somewhere (We made landfall at a quiet bay.)

Common phrases: make landfall, first landfall, landfall at something

A mass of earth or rock sliding down a slope.

• A landfall blocked the road.
• Heavy rain caused a landfall on the hillside.
• The village suffered several landfalls that winter.

Similar words: landslide, landslip

Common phrases: sudden landfall, heavy landfall