Pronunciation: [ɡˈʌsts] (IPA) 
The word "gusts" is spelled with a "s" at the end, even though it is pronounced with a "z" sound, represented by the phonetic symbol /z/. This is because of a spelling rule in English, which states that when a word ends in "s", "x", "ch", or "sh", we add "-es" to form the plural or third person singular present tense. This explains why we write "gusts" instead of "gustz". The IPA transcription for "gusts" is /ɡʌsts/.
Gusts, in the context of weather, refer to brief bursts or sudden rushes of wind that have increased speed. These episodes of strong wind are characterized by a rapid change in velocity and can vary in intensity. They are often temporary and typically last only a few seconds to a few minutes. Gusts can occur during different weather conditions, such as storms, hurricanes, or even just during a normal windy day.
The strength of gusts can range from mild to extremely forceful, with higher velocities capable of causing various impacts. During gusty conditions, loose objects can be easily blown away, tree branches may break, and it may become more challenging to walk or drive due to the powerful wind.
Gusts are generally caused by abrupt changes in air pressure, often associated with turbulent atmospheric conditions. They tend to be more prevalent in certain geographical regions, such as coastal areas or mountainous regions, where different air masses interact and create turbulence.
In meteorology, gusts are commonly measured and reported as part of weather forecasts. Meteorologists predict gusts by analyzing atmospheric data, including wind speed and direction. This information is essential for public safety, as it helps individuals prepare for and respond to potential hazards associated with strong winds.
Overall, gusts are temporary, swift blasts of wind that can occur during various weather conditions, causing significant effects on the surrounding environment.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "gusts" originated from the Old Norse word "gústr", which means a gust of wind. It was then adopted into Middle English as "gust" with the same meaning. The word gradually evolved into its present form, "gusts", through regular linguistic changes and modifications over time.
