microburst
Localized storm downdraft
A microburst is a sudden, intense downdraft of air from a thunderstorm that spreads outward when it hits the ground, producing damaging winds.
Unlike tornadoes, microbursts push straight down and out rather than spinning.
They're particularly hazardous to aircraft during takeoff and landing: The crash was attributed to wind shear from a microburst.
Violent weather with lightning
- downpourIntense precipitation event
- cloudburstSudden heavy localized rainfall
- cellBasic unit of life
- supercellRotating severe thunderstorm
severe · warning · hail · lightning · convective · rainfall · deluge · torrent
Descending air current
- convectionHeat transfer via motion
- cumulonimbusTowering storm-producing cloud
- outflowFluid exiting a system
- virgaAirborne moisture evaporating midfall
precipitation · updraft · instability · evaporation · cooling · thunderstorm · mesoscale · doppler
Sudden airspeed change aloft
- downdraftDescending air current
- turbulenceChaotic flow patterns
- hazardSource of potential harm
- warningAlert about danger
radar · detection · landing · approach · crash · pilot · aircraft · altitude
thunderstorm
Violent weather with lightning
- downpourIntense precipitation event
- cloudburstSudden heavy localized rainfall
- cellBasic unit of life
supercell · severe · warning · hail · lightning · convective · rainfall · deluge · torrent · monsoon
downdraft
Descending air current
- convectionHeat transfer via motion
- cumulonimbusTowering storm-producing cloud
- outflowFluid exiting a system
virga · precipitation · updraft · instability · evaporation · cooling · thunderstorm · mesoscale · doppler · atmospheric
windshear
Sudden airspeed change aloft
- downdraftDescending air current
- turbulenceChaotic flow patterns
- hazardSource of potential harm
warning · radar · detection · landing · approach · crash · pilot · aircraft · altitude · sudden
gust
Brief wind surge
divergent · straight-line · downward · velocity · knots · blast · forceful · sudden · violent · extreme
destruction
Act of completely ruining
swath · debris · starburst · radial · path · roof · devastation · localized · intense · aftermath
- weather phenomenatornado, wind, hurricane, gust, blizzard
- severe weatherblizzard, hurricane, cyclone, hailstorm, ice storm
- windstormstornado, hurricane, cyclone, typhoon, twister
- aviation hazardsbird strike, engine failure, icing, midair collision, pilot error
- Micromicrobes, microchip, microchips, microwave, microbiology
- Aviation Weathervisibility, ceiling, cloud ceiling, ceiling height, turbulence
microbursttornado
Violent rotating windstorm
waterspout · dust devil · mesocyclone · vortex · whirlwind