Perrysburg Wind Damage Friday

About a dozen power poles were snapped and several trees were down due to a downburst Friday evening.  It happened at around 7:30 pm in Perrysburg near Roachton and Shelder roads.

A downburst is a localized blast of wind that rushes down from a cloud, hits the ground, and then spreads out horizontally.  Downbursts (aka straight-line winds) can be further classified into macrobursts and microbursts.

Macrobursts affect an area greater than 2 1/2 miles, and can produce winds up to 135 mph.  Microbursts affect an area less than 2 1/2 miles, but wind speeds can get as high as 170 mph.

These types of winds can create significant damage in a straight, or linear, pattern.  (Whereas a tornado's damage is more circular in nature).

Straight line winds are also quite dangerous for pilots, who experience rapid wind speed and change in direction.

 



Storm report courtesy NWS Cleveland.  Diagram courtesy NOAA/NWS.