Wind just blows me away!

Okay.... so that was a bad pun.  But hey, at least it is accurate!  Wind is a crucial part of the atmospheric system... but when it becomes strong, it can make things dangerous!  Strong winds associated with severe thunderstorms are often, I feel, the most neglected factor of the storm by the public.  People think they can handle a little wind.  But what happens when that wind gets too strong?  Things happen.

Straight-line wind damage in Burnett County, WI on July 1st, 2011.
Courtesy of WQOW-Eau Claire, WI.

Strong winds associated with severe thunderstorms can be very destructive, especially when they are
straight-line winds.  Straight-line winds are very powerful because of their non-divergence and can easily topple entire forests (a past event like this is still evident along a few bluffs south of La Crosse, WI) and damage homes. 

The National Weather Service will issue severe thunderstorm warnings for storms that produce winds in excess of 60 mph to alert the public of the danger.  When such a warning is issued, it is advised that you get into a basement or interior hallway and stay away from windows since strong thunderstorm winds can blow in your windows and send glass flying around the room - injuring anyone in the path of the glass.  Strong winds can even topple old or poorly constructed buildings, so choose a study structure to seek shelter in.



Image of a microburst in Australia.

In addition to strong winds produced by thunderstorms, there is another type of strong wind that can cause significant damage to property and the public.  A microburst is a brief, localized, but powerful gust of wind that originates from quickly sinking air.  They can produce damaging straight-line winds at the surface that are similar to tornadoes.  And there are two types of microburst, wet and dry... and you can probably figure out the difference there!  Just like thunderstorm winds, microbursts are also destructive, so you should seek shelter immediately if you are warned about them (although there the time between an issued warning and being able to take cover is still very short!).

So all in all, be careful with the wind.  Sure it can help you rake the yard in the fall (by blowing all your leaves into your neighbor's yard), but it can also be very destructive.  Take the warnings seriously and stay clear of those windows!