Derecho

weather · extreme storms · wind

Straight-line winds. Unlike tornadoes that spin, derechos blast forward in a straight line at speeds over 58 miles per hour. These fast, destructive winds can travel for hundreds of miles without stopping.

Born from storms. Derechos form from mesoscale convective systems, which are giant clusters of severe thunderstorms grouped together. The whole storm system races forward as one powerful unit, spreading destruction across entire states.

Fast and deadly. Derechos move incredibly quickly across the landscape, which makes them especially dangerous. People often have little warning before the violent winds arrive and tear through their communities.

Wide damage paths. These storms flatten trees, damage buildings, and knock out power across enormous areas. A single derecho can affect regions hundreds of miles wide and create damage zones that look almost like a tornado has passed through.