Microburst is a kind of severe weather condition, which develops as a column of dropping air. Damage created by microburst is divergent in nature. Wind accompanying microburst moves in a straight line. Microburst appears like a tornado. However the convergent nature of damage produced by a tornado distinguishes it from a microburst.

Tetsuya Theodore Fujita, a renowned severe weather expert, introduced the term microburst to describe powerful downbursts spreading over an area of 4 kilometers in diameter.

Creation of Microburst

Strong downdraft is an essential pre-requisite for microburst. Microburst breaks out when the powerful air current starts moving in the downward direction. Microburst takes very little time to mature. Once the wind starts blowing it takes hardly few minutes to reach the surface level. Microburst wind attains maximum strength when it touches the ground. At the stage of outburst, the wind starts spiraling in the outward direction.

Features of Microburst

• Microburst can be of two types: wet microburst and dry microburst. Wet microburst is followed by precipitation. Dry microburst is characterized by virga.

• Mid-level moisture, dense and dry adiabatic lapse rate in the midst of cloud layers and a low level of surface humidity are the three key factors that create dry microburst.

• In case of wet microburst, the temperature and humidity level of lower atmospheric levels must be high enough to create thunderstorm.

• Microburst wind flows with a speed of 75 miles per hour.

• Microburst usually comes with huge amount of rainfall. However it is not accompanied by thunder and lightening.

• Microburst is commonly observed in high altitudes and the western region of the United States.