👉 Updrafts are a type of airflow that occurs when air rises above the ground. They are caused by the movement of warm, moist air moving up from a high-pressure system or body of water. The updrafts can be large and powerful, with winds reaching speeds of over 20 miles per hour (32 km/h) in some cases. Updrafts can also cause significant changes to the air quality in areas above them due to the release of pollutants into the atmosphere.