stormy weather; rough weather
Refers to weather with strong winds, heavy rain, or high waves. Often used in forecasts, maritime contexts, and formal descriptions.
明日は荒天が予想されるため、登山は中止になった。
Because stormy weather is expected tomorrow, the mountain climbing was canceled.
荒天のため、フェリーが欠航になった。
Due to rough weather, the ferry service was suspended.
荒天 is a formal, weather-report term for stormy conditions, while 荒れ is a more general word that can also describe rough seas or chapped skin.
荒天 is pronounced identically to 好天 but means stormy, rough weather, the near-opposite meaning, so context is essential to tell them apart.
Compound of 荒 (rough, wild) and 天 (sky, weather). The reading こうてん is the on'yomi of both characters.