Outflow winds can exceed 40 mph and increase fire danger. They happen during the mature and dissipating stage of a thunderstorm and if strong enough they can cause some damage. We’ve gotten some viewer reports of gusty winds on Monday, and they may have been outflow winds, as there were a few thunderstorms in the area. Outflow winds come out of a thunderstorm and are a cool rush of wind, spreading in a variety of directions. They can also create new thunderstorms, acting like mini cold fronts.