What defines a microburst?

A microburst is characterized by a strong, localized downdraft that descends rapidly from a thunderstorm and creates damaging winds on or near the ground. This downdraft can result in significant and sudden wind changes, which often pose a serious hazard to aircraft during takeoff and landing, as the winds can exceed 100 knots. The intense downward motion and the resulting horizontal winds can create dangerous conditions where an aircraft can experience sudden increases or decreases in airspeed and altitude.

Understanding that a microburst involves a severe downdraft helps in recognizing the critical nature of weather phenomena that pilots must be prepared to encounter. The rapid downward movement is a defining feature that distinguishes microbursts from other meteorological conditions, such as those caused by a gradual increase in wind speed or large areas of low pressure, which do not embody the sudden and violent nature of microbursts. Additionally, while microbursts may occur within storms, they are not categorized as a type of localized storm itself but rather as a phenomenon that can happen during storm development.