downburst

A downburst is a strong ground-level wind system that emanates from a point source above and blows radially, that is, in a straight line in all directions, from the point of contact at ground level. Often producing damaging winds, it may be confused with a tornado, but is different in that a tornado, high velocity winds circle a central area, moves inward and upward whereas in a downburst, winds are directed downward and then outward from the surface landing point.