Derechoes

A derecho is a widespread and long-lived straight-line wind event associated with a cluster of severe thunderstorms in the form of a squall line. Pronounced “day-ray-sho” and meaning “straight ahead” in Spanish, the winds with a derecho can be as destructive as a tornado, but only come from one direction. These wind events can cause damage over areas hundred miles long and nearly a hundred miles wide. Winds within a derecho produce widespread winds of at least 60 mph with higher wind gusts. It’s not atypical for wind gusts with a derecho to be near 100 mph. The damage caused by the winds from a derecho are often mistaken for tornado damage. Derechoes are rare; the atmospheric conditions have to come together perfectly for them to form. The term was first published and coined in 1888, but was not widely used until the 1980’s when meteorologists dusted it off.

Source: ERH | NOAA