What are downbursts and why are they dangerous

Strong winds that can develop in seconds and cause damage comparable to a tornado; here’s everything you need to know about downbursts.

Downbursts, as the name suggests, are a phenomenon that creates powerful winds that descend from a thunderstorm and spread out quickly once they hit the ground. Some downbursts can produce winds up to 110 mph!

The damage caused by a downburst is sometimes significant, as they can blow over cars, lift roofs and even topple over entire sections of forests. Downburst damage can be so severe they are often misinterpreted as tornadoes.

So how do these phenomena develop? It all starts with a growing thunderstorm. As the storm grows vertically, it produces rain and hail that is suspended aloft due to rising air.

Once the storm matures, the rising air weakens, and the rain and ice begin to fall, dragging a lot of air down with them. The falling column of air accelerates as it plummets earthward until finally reaching the ground.

Much like a stream of water coming out of a faucet and hitting the sink, the air spreads out in all directions at the surface and a downburst is born. The closer you are to the sinking column of air, the stronger the winds, as downbursts tend to lose speed with distance.