A microburst is a small-scale downburst, thus a very localized column of sinking air caused by a small and intense downdraft(the air does not spin like it does in the case of a cyclone or tornado)[1] within a thunderstorm. There are two types of microbursts: wet microbursts and dry microbursts. They go through three stages in their life cycle: the downburst, outburst, and cushion stages. The scale and suddenness of a microburst makes it a great danger to aircraft due to the low-level wind shear caused by its gust front, with several fatal crashes having been attributed to the phenomenon over the past several decades. A microburst often has high winds that can knock over fully grown trees. They usually last for a duration of a couple of seconds to several minutes.

…..so cool.

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Francis Xavier is a seasoned writer for Unofficial Networks, bringing a lifetime of outdoor experience to his work. Having lived in a ski resort town for years he has a deep connection to mountain culture....