Each year microbursts damage at
least a few homes and businesses across far western Texas and
southern New Mexico, usually during the late spring, summer and
early autumn. Remember when the National Weather Service issues a Severe
Thunderstorm Warning or a Tornado
Warning, it means wind gusts of 58 mph or higher
are expected along with the possibility of wind damage. Persons in
the path of a severe thunderstorm must take shelter immediately in
a strong building.
Another danger from downbursts and microbursts is blowing
dust and sand. During the summer of
2002, there were a number of downburst-induced blowing dust and sand
events along Interstate 10 between Las Cruces and Lordsburg with
the
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resultant low visibilities causing numerous motor-vehicle accidents.
At least three people died in these wrecks.
Thus travelers encountering obstructions to vision from blowing
dust should drive well below normal speed limits, or even pull over
and cease driving until the visibility has improved.
Finally microbursts are extremely dangerous to aircraft, primarily
during taking off and landing. In 1985, a microburst directly caused a major
airline crash at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport in Texas,
killing 137 people. Pilots must accordingly obtain
thorough weather briefings along their flight paths and avoid
flying near showers and thunderstorms. |
