https://www.weather.gov/bmx/outreach_microbursts
What is a Microburst?
A microburst is a localized column of sinking air (downdraft) within a thunderstorm and is usually less than or equal to 2.5 miles in diameter. Microbursts can cause extensive damage at the surface, and in some instances, can be life-threatening. There are two primary types of microbursts: 1) wet microbursts and 2) dry microbursts. Wet microbursts are accompanied by significant precipitation and are common in the Southeast during the summer months
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What causes a Microburst?
It all starts with the development of a thunderstorm and the water droplets/hailstones being suspended within the updraft. Sometimes an updraft is so strong it suspends large amounts of these droplets and hailstones in the upper portions of the thunderstorm. There are many factors that can lead to evaporational cooling (sinking air) and therefore weakening of the updraft. Once this occurs, it is no longer capable of holding the large core of rain/hail up in the thunderstorm. As a result, the core plummets to the ground. As it hits the ground it spreads out in all directions. The location in which the microburst first hits the ground experiences the highest winds and greatest damage.
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Where have I been???? I’ve never heard of a microburst.
Don’t feel bad that you didn’t know what a microburst was.
Unil one hit us I had no clue either.
Everybody thought it was a tornado but we don’t have them here in the mountains.
We all had to learn what they were.
Yeah, it’s pretty new to me too… they have already renamed some areas around me to F1 tornado.
It was about a 100’ path (that stretched for miles) and every tree fell the same direction. Just crazy! Reminds me of how it looks in FL after a hurricane, where all the trees fell one direction. I have a 3’ wide tree uprooted just a few feet from some lounge chairs that didn’t even have the cushions blown off!
So, I video documented our storm damage, thought you might be interested.
https://vimeo.com/849967638?share=copy