Tornado or Microburst? Unraveling the recent weather event in Columbia county

You might’ve heard about the destructive storm that hit Columbia County recently, particularly near Appling. Trees down, power out, and a lot of residents thinking a tornado touched down. But guess what? It wasn’t a twister after all!

What actually happened?

It turns out that it was a microburst, which occurs when a strong surge of air from a thunderstorm hits the ground and spreads in all directions. Winds can reach up to 100 mph or even greater, which leads to damage similar to that of a tornado.

Why it wasn’t a tornado

Microbursts and tornadoes involve destructive winds, but there are key differences.

• Formation: Tornadoes form when strong lift in the thunderstorm flips rotation vertically, while microbursts occur as cold air builds in the middle of a storm as the updraft weakens.
• Appearance: Tornadoes are visible as funnel clouds, while microbursts are seen as a rain shaft.
• Duration: Tornadoes can last up to a few hours, while microbursts are usually over within a few minutes.
• Damage Pattern: Tornadoes tend to leave a long, narrow path of damage with trees falling in different directions. Microbursts spread out in a wider area with trees falling in the same direction.

In the case of the Columbia County event, there were no reports of funnel clouds, and the damage pattern was more consistent with a microburst. Plus, meteorologists saw no rotation on radar, and the atmospheric conditions didn’t favor tornado development. So, while it wasn’t a tornado, it’s a powerful reminder to be prepared and safe during severe weather.

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