Which statement about microbursts is true?

• A. They can produce wind speeds greater than 100 knots
• B. They always produce light precipitation
• C. They occur only at night
• D. They travel with thunderstorm lines

Answer: (A)

Microbursts are intense, localized downdrafts in a thunderstorm that strike the ground and spread outward in all directions. When this air reaches the surface, it creates powerful gusts as the outflow hits and spreads, producing severe wind shear that can abruptly affect an airplane during takeoff or landing. A key point is that these surface winds can exceed 100 knots in a very short duration, which is the primary hazard pilots study for. Precipitation isn’t a reliable indicator—microbursts can be wet, dry, or somewhere in between, so they aren’t defined by light precipitation. They also aren’t limited to nighttime and aren’t something that simply travels with a thunderstorm line; they’re localized, momentary events associated with the storm’s downdraft and outflow.