Wind

  • Strong winds that are produced from thunderstorms are called downdrafts: small scale downward movements of air in a cumulonimbus cloud.
  • Downdrafts are generated when cold dense air sinks to the bottom of the thunderstorm and is ‘dragged’ out by precipitation.
  • A downburst occurs when a downdraft becomes localized so that it hits the ground and spreads out.
wind diagram

Source: WeatherSTEM