Mesmerizing weather video: Anatomy of a microburst

We've had our share of microbursts in Minnesota this summer. Some have caused considerable wind damage. Most have occurred at night. Even in daylight it's often hard to see microbursts in Minnesota through surrounding murky humid air masses and with heavy tree cover.

That's why nine years in Tucson, Arizona was a real treat for me as a meteorologist who loves to watch the sky unfold. This video of a wet microburst in Tucson last weekend is an excellent example of how to think about microbursts. The incredible microburst time lapse video was shot by Tucson photographer Bryan Snyder last weekend. You can also see what looks like brief gustnado-type circulations spinning up on the left edge of the advancing microburst later in this video.

Microbursts often develop from above, as a massive heavy rain shaft accelerates toward ground level, then fans out violently as it strikes the earth.

microburst
NOAA

Here's the ultra slow-mo version of last weekend's Tucson microburst.

https://vimeo.com/136145121

This is probably the best visualization of a microburst I have seen. Nice going Bryan!

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