This meteorological phenomenon occurs when a strong downdraft in a thunderstorm hits the ground and spreads out horizontally.
This meteorological phenomenon occurs when a strong downdraft in a thunderstorm hits the ground and spreads out horizontally. Though its edges only extend 4 kilometers horizontally from the center of the downburst*, winds can gust up to 168 mph near the surface. It has directly or indirectly caused at least 4 major commercial airplane crashes upon takeoff or landing, since the strong headwind felt when approaching it causes an airplane to speed up rapidly, because of which the pilots decelerate, causing the plane to fall upon entering the tailwind. FTP, what is this localized characteristic of intense thunderstorms, which pilots are now carefully trained to handle?
This meteorological phenomenon occurs when a strong downdraft in a thunderstorm hits the ground and spreads out horizontally.
Microburst (accept downburst before "4 kilometers")