Weymouth Emergency Management Macrobursts Macrobursts are large downbursts with a 2.5 mile or greater outflow diameter and damaging winds lasting 5 to 20 minutes. Downbursts are a downdraft resulting in an outward burst of damaging winds on or near the ground.
Downburst winds can produce damage similar to a strong tornado.
Downdrafts are a column of generally cool air that rapidly sinks to the ground, usually accompanied by precipitation as in a shower or thunderstorm.