Derecho comes from the Spanish adjective for "straight" (or "direct"), in contrast with a tornado which is a "twisted" wind. The word was first used in the American Meteorological Journal in 1888 by See more

A common definition is a thunderstorm complex that produces a damaging wind swath of at least 400 kilometres (250 mi), featuring a concentrated area of convectively … See more

Derechos in North America form predominantly from April to August, peaking in frequency from May into July. During this time of year, derechos are mostly found in the See more

Derechos can be hazardous to aviation due to embedded microbursts, downbursts, and downburst clusters. In addition, the powerful updrafts and high cloud tops can cause for dangerous conditions. Their sheer size also makes them very difficult … See more

Organized areas of thunderstorm activity reinforce pre-existing frontal zones, and can outrun cold fronts. The resultant mesoscale convective system See more

Winds in a derecho can be enhanced by downburst clusters embedded inside the storm. These straight-line winds may exceed 45 m/s (85 kn), reaching 60 m/s (115 kn) in past events. Tornadoes sometimes form within derecho events, although such … See more

Since derechos occur during warm months and often in places with cold winter climates, people who are most at risk are those involved in outdoor activities. Campers, hikers, and motorists are most at risk because of falling trees toppled over by straight-line … See more