Straight line winds are responsible for most thunderstorm wind damage. One type of straight line wind, a downburst, can cause damage similar to tornadoes and is extremely dangerous to aviation take offs and landings. A downburst is a small area of rapidly descending air beneath a thunderstorm. This air can cause damaging winds in excess of 100 mph. Downbursts are associated with severe thunderstorms and not all thunderstorms produce downbursts.
Tornadoes are the most dangerous and damaging aspect of severe thunderstorms.
Most fatalities from tornadoes occur in mobile homes and in automobiles. See the waterspout section for the differences between tornadoes and waterspouts and the photo gallery for more pictures of waterspouts. There were 6 tornado occurrences in 1998 in the Keys and 2 moved through the Upper Keys during Tropical Storm Mitch in November. Fortunately, there were no deaths which occurred during these tornadoes but the tornado induced by Mitch in Key Largo injured 20 people. Tornadoes form in severe thunderstorms.