Downdrafts are the result of precipitation failing and dragging air downward.

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Air inside a storm sinks when it becomes negatively buoyant, and downdrafts form mainly from two effects: precipitation loading and evaporational cooling. As rain or hail falls, it grabs some of the surrounding air, dragging it downward—the precipitation loading. At the same time, evaporation of raindrops into drier air cools the surrounding air, increasing its density and making it descend more strongly. This combination creates a descending current of air that can reach the surface as a strong outflow. That’s why downdrafts are described as the air being dragged downward by precipitation. Updrafts, in contrast, lift air upward; gust fronts are the outward spread of cool air from the storm rather than just surface warm air rising; and microbursts are intense downdrafts near the ground, not strong updrafts.