Severe thunderstorm and microburst in Montreal - August 22nd, 2017

[@Stormviation]

17:55: That is a very good shot of the approaching storm! Just by looking at that and hearing the rumbles of thunder, you immediately realize it's going to be a dangerous storm! Very nice video.

[@Rain1290]

Thank you for your comment, Stormviation! Indeed, this really was a dangerous thunderstorm, and that freight train-like noise before the winds and rains were unleashed really provoked an unsettling feeling! The thunder startled me, too, at times, as it was impressively loud!

[@beantowne617]

Great vid. That rain shaft means business. Wow!

[@marco.rproduction9232]

Good video!

[@andrewvasquez9554]

Keeps coming

[@SkyOfTheUniverse]

Wow! As soon as that storm happened I actually thought of your channel and commentary. So that's why damage was isolated to NDG? If I understand a tornado sucks things in and a microburst blows outward? I wonder if there are any detailed radar images where you can zoom into NDG and see the actual microburst

[@Rain1290]

Hi SkyOfTheUniverse, Thank you very much for your comments, and I am pleased that you were thinking of this channel during this event! I believe the damage was mostly centered around NDG (and closely neighboring areas) because that was approximately where the bowing segment became most distinct (it can be broadly seen in the radar imagery by 4:54 into the video), and where the center of the bow was particularly pronounced. This meant that NDG was subject to the most forceful winds and would explain why the damage was magnified there, as compared to other locations that experienced milder forms of damage. A tornado is a violent spinning vortex of air that extends from the base of a severe thunderstorm and does, indeed, draw objects towards it (intense suction) - essentially, it is a giant vacuum. The damage associated with tornadoes can certainly resemble that of straight-line winds (such as with a microburst), which does often lead to confusion as to whether a widespread wind event or a tornado actually occurred. Tornadoes tend to produce more erratic damage patterns because of the manner in which they travel with the parent thunderstorm - this means that they can completely destroy a home or structure (depending on the tornado's intensity) on one end of a street while leaving a neighboring home virtually untouched. Straight-line winds will comparatively tend to yield more uniform and ubiquitous damage (as shown principally in NDG), which makes them easier to distinguish. All thunderstorms have updrafts (warm, moist air ingested into a thunderstorm) and downdrafts (downward, dense cooled air in the thunderstorm rushing to the surface). Some thunderstorms, however, will have enhanced downdrafts (like in this case), providing that the atmospheric conditions are suitable. But yes, the microburst (or any downdraft) involves air descending and spreading outward upon impacting the surface. Think of it like the water in a water balloon spreading in all directions upon the bursting of the balloon when it impacts the ground after dropping from a sufficient height. If interested, I also provide detailed outlooks on my Facebook page (since 2011) whenever extreme weather becomes favorable in Eastern Ontario to S./SW Quebec. :)

[@diannakoller6048]

16:50 looks like Satan created the thunderstorm 16:50 looks like Satan created the thunderstorm 16:50 looks like Satan created the thunderstorm

[@hiramii-ik1hx]

Good

[@SkyOfTheUniverse]

By the way I have videos on my channel if you want to see the damage. Thanks again

[@Rain1290]

Hi SkyOfTheUniverse, Thank you for letting me know about this. Indeed, I watched all seven parts of your footage (I left a comment on part one) and must thank you for taking the time to bring us all of that good video. Really, it gives the viewer a very, very good understanding as to what unfolded following the thunderstorms and acquire a comprehensive sense as to the nature of the damage and how the powerful thunderstorm/wet microburst transformed the area. Excellent documentation of this event, and thank you so much for your work!