Hurricane-proofed downtown skyscrapers unexpectedly vulnerable to 'bouncing' winds

Houston, we have a problem. The "Space City" boasts 50 buildings over 150 meters tall. These were designed to withstand hurricanes, to which Texas is prone. But on May 16th, 2024, a derecho—a wide, long-lived windstorm associated with rapidly moving showers or thunderstorms—managed to cause unexpected damage to many of the tall buildings downtown. The socio-economic impact was significant, due to traffic disruptions, businesses temporarily closing, and the need for repairs.

from Tech Xplore - electronic gadgets, technology advances and research news https://ift.tt/1J9nORP