Originally Posted by nikimcbee (Post 1426818)

That's where there is a sudden, powerful downflow of air?

Originally Posted by Your Friendly Local Wikipedia Outlet Superstore! (free beer)

A microburst is a very localized column of sinking air, producing damaging divergent and straight-line winds at the surface that are similar to but distinguishable from tornadoes which generally have convergent damage. 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.

Originally Posted by OneToughHerring (Post 1427319)

We actually have these small tornados called trombis here too. Could be a climate change related.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...isttornado.jpg

Originally Posted by OneToughHerring (Post 1427331)

krashkart,

you don't have to Google everything, give the coffee pot a rest already. :03:

Originally Posted by FIREWALL (Post 1427334)

I'll take a shaker over a twister anytime.

I've heard a twister can make a U turn just when you think your safe.