Downburst
A downburst is created by an area of significantly rain-cooled air that, after hitting ground level, spreads out in all directions producing strong winds. Unlike winds in a
tornado, winds in a downburst are directed outwards from the point where it hits land or water. Dry downbursts are associated with
thunderstorms with very little rain, while wet downbursts are created by thunderstorms with high amounts of rainfall. Microbursts and macrobursts are downbursts at very small and larger scales respectively. Another variety, the heat burst, is created by vertical currents on the backside of old outflow boundaries and
squall lines where rainfall is lacking. Heat bursts generate significantly higher temperatures due to the lack of rain-cooled air in their formation. Downbursts create vertical
wind shear or
microburst which is dangerous to aviation.
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Downburst
A strong
downdraft resulting in an outward burst of damaging winds on or near the ground. Downburst winds can produce damage similar to a strong
tornado . Although usually associated with thunderstorms, downbursts can occur with showers too weak to produce thunder. See
dry and wet microburst .
DOWNBURST
A strong downdraft which induces an outburst of damaging winds on or near the ground. Damaging winds, either straight or curved, are highly divergent. The sizes of downbursts vary from 1/2 mile or less to more than 10 miles. An intense downburst often causes widespread damage. Damaging winds, lasting 5 to 30 minutes, could reach speeds as high as 120 knots.