microburst

noun

mi·​cro·​burst ˈmī-krō-ˌbərst 

: a violent short-lived localized downdraft that creates extreme wind shears at low altitudes and is usually associated with thunderstorms

Did you know?

Credit for the invention of the word microburst is generally given to tornado expert Tetsuya Theodore Fujita. Fujita first described these extremely intense wind patterns in 1974. He noted that microbursts are usually short-lived, lasting only 5 to 15 minutes, but that they are extremely dangerous, especially for aircraft, because they cause sudden unexpected changes in wind direction or speed. Since the mid-1970s, many airports have installed Doppler radar systems to help detect potentially deadly microbursts.

Examples of microburst in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Ones of short distances, less than 2.5 miles in diameter, are known as microbursts. —Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 3 Sep. 2025

Meteorologists attributed the damage to powerful dry microbursts known as virga bombs, where evaporating rain triggers sudden and violent downdrafts. —Hayleigh Evans, AZCentral.com, 2 July 2025

More than a week after a fast-moving storm tore through Austin, meteorologists have confirmed that a microburst — a rare and intense downdraft — was behind much of the destruction, with winds reaching up to 85 mph in parts of the city. —Brandi D. Addison, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025

The storm, described as a microburst by Mayor Josh Huddlestun, ripped through the central part of Hobart and its downtown. —Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1980, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for microburst

• interspersed
• reimbursed
• amerced
• cloudburst
• coerced
• conversed
• disbursed
• dispersed
• headfirst
• immersed
• outburst
• rehearsed

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