Microburst winds can exceed 100 mph, go unrecorded

Shelly Haskins | By Shelly Haskins | The Huntsville Times
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on June 30, 2008 at 11:45 AM, updated June 30, 2008 at 11:50 AM

People today are asking how a thunderstorm with a reported 48 mph wind could have caused the damage at the Huntsville Air Show Sunday afternoon that led to a 5-year-old boy's death.

As explained by Aaron Gleason, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, microbursts like the one that struck at the Huntsville International Airport can produce winds in excess of 100 mph, even though the highest wind that registered there was 48 mph.

"I don't know where that recording was made in relation to where the microburst occurred," Gleason said. "A microburst happens in a small, concentrated area, so it's likely it's largest wind gust wasn't recorded."

The meteorologist said the nature of microbursts makes them difficult, "if not impossible," to see on radar: "It's like they develop out of nowhere, and then they're gone."

Gleason said microbursts are not unusual, but it all depends on where one happens as to what kind of damage - if any - is recorded.

"A brief strong wind like that might take off a few shingles or knock over your lawn furniture, but it isn't going to have an impact on a house like it will a tent," he said. "And this happened right on top of the tents, the worst possible place."

Aaron Miller, 5, of Limestone County was killed when air conditioning equipment outside a tent fell on top of him. Twelve others were taken to Huntsville Hospital, and all were released except Matthew Pepper, 7, of Madison, who is in serious condition at the pediatric intensive care unit.