SEVERE THUNDERSTORM THREATS: HIGH WINDS/WIND DAMAGE
You should report any type of storm damage or storm cloud visual cues -- even well after the event. The National Weather Service and NewsChannel5 would like your report as close to its occurance as possible. If that's not possible, we would still like to hear about it, even days after the event!

DOWNBURSTS:
Most of the wind damage events in Northern Ohio each year can be attributed to downbursts or "straight-line winds."

A Downburst is a downdraft that has become damaging. Downdrafts form when heavy precipitation or evaporating precipitation falls out of a thunderstorm. The rainfall actually pulls wind down with it toward the Earth's surface.

The downdraft quickly accelerates due to gravity and strikes the ground. Winds can exceed 100 mph. If the damage path is less than 2.5 km wide, it is called a "MICROBURST." If the damage path is greater than 2.5 km wide, the downdraft is called a "MACROBURST."

Take a look at this impressive video from INSIDE a microburst! After seeing this video, you can understand why a downburst can be just as devastating as a tornado.

HIGH WINDS/WIND DAMAGE:
It is easy to over-estimate wind speeds. A 40 mph wind gust on a sunny day will not cause any great concern. The same wind speed during a thunderstorm may seem like a 60 mph gust to you.

When in doubt about your estimate, re-think it and try to remain as calm and objective as possible. Use the table below as a guide.

For a thunderstorm to be severe by definition, wind speeds will exceed 58 mph. That's enough to break large tree branches and even uproot trees. Your goal is to report real-time observations with accuracy, speed, and professionalism.

WIND SPEEDS TABLE:

• 25-31 mph - large branches in motion.
• 32-38 mph – whole trees in motion.
• 39-54 mph – twigs break off, wind impedes walking.
• 55-72 mph – damage to chimneys and TV antennas, large branches broken and some trees uprooted.
• 73-112 mph – removes shingles fro homes and buildings; windows are broken, trailer houses overturned, and trees uprooted.
• 113+ mph – roofs torn off, weak buildings and trailer houses destroyed, large trees uprooted.