A brief, sudden increase in wind speed, typically lasting less than 20 seconds.
basicWhat is Wind Gust?
Gusts are caused by turbulence from friction with the ground, thermal convection or wind shear around thunderstorms. The gust speed is typically 30–50% higher than the sustained wind. During severe thunderstorms, microbursts can produce gust speeds exceeding 150 km/h. Weather forecasts distinguish between sustained wind and gust to help assess risk.
Key points
- A brief, sudden increase in wind speed, typically lasting less than 20 seconds.
- Category: basic
Related terms
See also: wind-gust is connected to other weather concepts. Browse the full glossary for related definitions.