What is the scientific term for this weather phenomenon?

Question

I couldn't properly answer a question, because I can't remember what this is...

A few years ago, we experienced something tornado-like. We thought it was a tornado, but it was a sudden forceful rain which was "dumped" on us.

Answer 1

maybe a squall ??

Answer 2

You know I had to come and answer this one. When you answered my question I started to google your answer. Microburst was the closest, but it seems that I heard something else too. Let me scan the National Weather Service site and hopefully I can add more.

EUREKA!! It is called a wall cloud, here is the link http://www.geographic.org/climate/w.html

Answer 3

May be a stormy weather

Answer 4

deluge' (de-luge') this is the French pronunciation

and is used in reference to the water cannon on a fire truck which is called a "deluge' gun".

Answer 5

I am sure you are referring to a "down pour" where it rains really hard and fast.. causes flash flooding.

Answer 6

It sounds like you are describing a "wet microburst".  That is typically a short lived event where both rain and winds suddenly increase a great deal in intensity.  What happens is that the updraft in a storm weakens enough that the core of the storm (an area where the rain is locally very dense) basically collapses and plunges to the ground.  Once it hits, it spreads outward very quickly, but decreases in speed beyond the point of impact.