Responsible for most thunderstorm damage, straight-line winds can cause ordinary objects to become air-born missiles. These winds can down trees, power lines, overturn mobile homes and cause damage to well-built structures with winds reaching 100 to 150 mph.

Another deadly form of non-tornadic but damaging straight-line winds are downbursts. A downburst refers to a very small area of rapidly descending air beneath a thunderstorm that strikes the ground, producing isolated areas of significant damage from high wind. The loud roar also associated with these blasts could be confused as a tornado.