Microburst

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microburst

A convective downdraft (downburst) that covers an area less than 4 km along a side with peak winds that last 2–5 minutes.

Differential velocity across the divergence center is greater than 10 m s−1. The strong wind shears associated with a microburst can result in aircraft accidents. Microbursts can be wet (contain rain) or dry.

Atkins, N. T., and R. M. Wakimoto, 1991: Wet microburst activity over the southeastern United States: Implications for forecasting. Wea. Forecasting, 6, 470–482, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0434(1991)006<0470:WMAOTS>2.0.CO;2.


Term edited 22 June 2018.


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