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SoCalDem

(103,856 posts)
Sat Jul 7, 2012, 07:49 PM Jul 2012

Interesting facts about derechos

http://www.spc.noaa.gov/misc/AbtDerechos/derechofacts.htm
ABOUT DERECHOS

Part of the NOAA-NWS-NCEP Storm Prediction Center web site
Prepared by Robert H. Johns, Jeffry S. Evans, and Stephen F. Corfidi (with the help of many others)

For feedback on "About Derechos," contact Stephen Corfidi

Last updated July 3, 2012; see What's New for recent additions and changes.





INTRODUCTION

Definition of a derecho
A derecho (pronounced similar to "deh-REY-cho" in English, or pronounced phonetically as "&quot is a widespread, long-lived wind storm that is associated with a band of rapidly moving showers or thunderstorms. Although a derecho can produce destruction similar to that of tornadoes, the damage typically is directed in one direction along a relatively straight swath. As a result, the term "straight-line wind damage" sometimes is used to describe derecho damage. By definition, if the wind damage swath extends more than 240 miles (about 400 kilometers) and includes wind gusts of at least 58 mph (93 km/h) or greater along most of its length, then the event may be classified as a derecho.

Origin of the term "derecho"
The word "derecho" was coined by Dr. Gustavus Hinrichs, a physics professor at the University of Iowa, in a paper published in the American Meteorological Journal in 1888. A defining excerpt from the paper can be seen in this figure showing a derecho crossing Iowa on July 31, 1877. Hinrichs chose this terminology for thunderstorm-induced straight-line winds as an analog to the word tornado.


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Frustratedlady

(16,254 posts)
1. They refer to them as straight-line winds around here.
Sat Jul 7, 2012, 08:00 PM
Jul 2012

The strangest things you can imagine. For instance, there can be a path across a cornfield where it appears a river flowed through the corn and flattened it to the ground while the corn on either side was untouched.

I've seen tops of trees snapped like matchsticks as far as the eye could see, but trees on either side were untouched.

Those are eerie.

AsahinaKimi

(20,776 posts)
2. That is a wild photo ...
Sat Jul 7, 2012, 08:05 PM
Jul 2012

I will have to look for more...what an amazing scene. Weather can be destructive but even a tornado has its own kind of beauty. I never get tired looking at photos of strange weather patterns. "Its the wonder of Nature, baby!!"~ (from the motion picture Twister)



Kath1

(4,309 posts)
15. Hey, AsahinaKimi
Sun Jul 8, 2012, 12:33 AM
Jul 2012

That storm did a lot of destruction in my area but most of the houses were OK. It was amazing to see it in person. The force of nature is unbelievable. Never seen anything like it in my life.

AsahinaKimi

(20,776 posts)
16. I can't imagine.
Sun Jul 8, 2012, 05:35 AM
Jul 2012

I have been in floods. Been in an Earthquake, but never seen any thing like this, or a tornado. I can't even imagine seeing something so huge move across land.. Films and videos can't capture the total experience, but I supposed its better than being in the path of something so destructive.

 

Zalatix

(8,994 posts)
4. One thing I've never been able to figure out is
Sat Jul 7, 2012, 08:18 PM
Jul 2012

What does the wind blow like? It doesn't look like it's circular like a hurricane or a tornado.

Occulus

(20,599 posts)
6. Hard and pretty constant, with strong gusts of hurricane or F-1 tornado strength
Sat Jul 7, 2012, 08:26 PM
Jul 2012

And yes, they can be just as destructive.

Sometimes they're confused with microbursts, but a derecho is much more widespread.

a la izquierda

(11,784 posts)
17. Hard and straight...
Sun Jul 8, 2012, 06:48 AM
Jul 2012

My husband saw a full-sized mattress flying through the air as a result of the storm in Ohio last week.

IDemo

(16,926 posts)
9. The 'Derecho facts' page says that derecho means 'direct or straight ahead'
Sat Jul 7, 2012, 08:45 PM
Jul 2012

I've never seen or heard it used that way but apparently it does apply in some usages.

kenny blankenship

(15,689 posts)
10. The same way "la ligne droite" means straight line in French
Sat Jul 7, 2012, 08:53 PM
Jul 2012

though droit(e) means right.

Imagine the word-concept "right" meaning correct or some such: a right line would thus be one that doesn't deviate, making it straight.

Igel

(35,191 posts)
14. Give directions in Spanish.
Sat Jul 7, 2012, 11:34 PM
Jul 2012

Sigue derecho = go straight.

It can also mean 'upright' or vertical. Means a lot of things. "Direct" is cognate.

It means "right" only context: a la derecha = "to the right" (mano derecha, 'right hand'). It means 'right' in lots of contexts. But that's clearly not the only meaning.

In this case, the went kept going "derecho", it blew "derecho", so it was a "derecho" wind.

Odin2005

(53,521 posts)
13. The last derecho here in Fargo was on Memorial Day 2011.
Sat Jul 7, 2012, 09:12 PM
Jul 2012

Took out an ash tree in front of my apartment, the sound of cracking wood was deafening.

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