down·burst | \ ˈdau̇n-ˌbərst 
\
\Definition of downburst
: a powerful downdraft usually associated with a thunderstorm that strikes the ground and deflects in all directions also : microburst
Examples of downburst in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web Additional showers and storms will be possible late Sunday afternoon and evening once again with the potential for strong downburst winds.
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Dallas News, "Still hot with storm chances," 30 Aug. 2020 But any storms that develop will have the potential to produce strong to severe downburst winds, so be sure to stay weather aware.
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Dallas News, "Hottest day of the year," 29 Aug. 2020 This core is consistent with the generation of hail, and its collapse probably generated a powerful outblast of damaging wind at the surface, what is termed a downburst.
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Washington Post, "19 people injured after tree falls on garage in Anne Arundel County," 6 July 2020 Severe weather is unlikely, but the strongest storms will be capable of producing small hail and gusty downburst winds.
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Dallas News, "Rainy start to the weekend," 16 May 2020 Forecasters said the biggest threat from any storm on Thursday is damaging downbursts or hail.
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Travis Fedschun, Fox News, "Summerlike temperatures to arrive in NYC after polar vortex, severe storm threat in Midwest," 14 May 2020 The thunderstorms can lead to two atmospheric events that could quickly damage a large area: downbursts and lightning.
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Youyou Zhou, Quartz, "How Australia’s massive bushfires are generating thunderstorms," 4 Jan. 2020 Forecasters there said damaging winds from downbursts will be the main threat with any stronger storms that develop.
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Leigh Morgan, al, "Isolated severe storms possible today in parts of Alabama," 7 Aug. 2019 The National Weather Service warned that some storms could produce gusty downburst winds, frequent lightning and flooding in some areas.
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Jesus Jimenez, Dallas News, "Dallas-Fort Worth could feel like 111 degrees Wednesday afternoon, then a cold front could bring storms," 10 July 2019
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'downburst.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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Time Traveler for downburst
The first known use of downburst was in 1977
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