If airborne radar indicates an extremely intense thunderstorm echo, what distance should you avoid it by?

The best practice when encountering an extremely intense thunderstorm echo on airborne radar is to avoid it by a distance of 20 miles. This recommendation is based on the nature of severe thunderstorms, which can exhibit unpredictable behavior, including sudden changes in intensity and the potential for hazardous conditions such as severe turbulence, hail, or lightning. Maintaining a distance of 20 miles provides an additional buffer to ensure safety from possible downdrafts and other dangerous phenomena that can extend far beyond the visible cloud structure.

By keeping this distance, pilots can help mitigate risks associated with flying near severe thunderstorms, ensuring a higher level of safety for both themselves and their passengers. Additionally, severe thunderstorm cells can produce microbursts—localized downdrafts that can impact areas well away from the storm itself—making the larger distance advisable. This distance also accounts for the radar's limitations, allowing for a safer operational margin in turbulent weather.