A downburst blasts Bangkok, Thailand, in 2017. Natapat Ariyamongkol/iStock/Getty Images Plus April 30, 2025 What is a downburst? These winds can be destructive like tornadoes − we recreate them to test building designs Amal Elawady, Florida International University; Fahim Ahmed, Florida International University; Mohamed Eissa, Florida International University, and Omar Metwally, Florida International University Engineers use giant fans in the Wall of Wind test facility to study the destructive ways these powerful winds can interact with tall buildings.
