It is “Severe Weather Awareness Week” in Kansas and today, ironically, we talk about wind.
We are all too familiar with damage done by tornadoes, but wind alone can do some serious damage. Downburst winds from a thunderstorm occurs when an area of air within the storm is cooled by chilly raindrops, hailstones, or by evaporation of the raindrops, which quickly cools the air. This pocket of cooled air, which is heavier that the surrounding air, accelerates downward to the ground. As the cool air slams into the ground, it spreads out from the area of impact. This is called a downburst. Ottawa experienced a downburst in 1999 that knocked down nearly all the trees in City Park and damaged houses in the area. Another one in 2009 caused major damage to the Ottawa Airport, a local motel, flipped trucks on I-35 as well as snapping power poles in the area.
It is very important to be inside during thunderstorms and to be aware of changing weather conditions. High winds can suddenly develop, which can cause things on the ground to become airborne, which can injure or kill people.
