You've got your tornados, your hurricanes, your squalls, your severe thunderstorms—most of us have at least some experience with stuff like that. But what about a "derecho?"
A derecho (de-RAY-cho) is an extremely fast-moving storm characterized by straight-line winds (as opposed to the circular winds that define many thunderstorms and tornadoes). They're most commonly associated with the summer months, and the destruction they leave behind can be truly legendary.
For a prime example of the awesome power of a derecho, check out this quick footage one fellow shot in Ottawa just a couple of weeks ago:
The most mind-blowing part of the footage is how quickly things go from "oh, wow, this is a strong thunderstorm" to "welp, the world is literally ending before my eyes:"
That deeply unsettling green tint in the air means you're about to be treated to a world-class weather event.
The speed of the whole thing isn't a trick of the camera: Other footage from the weather event shows just how insanely fast the storm was moving.
The National Weather Service notes the broad distribution of derecho territory in the United States:
Derechos in the United States most commonly occur along two axes. One extends along the "Corn Belt" from the upper Mississippi Valley southeast into the Ohio Valley, and the other from the southern Plains northeast into the mid Mississippi Valley...During the cool season (September through April), derechos are relatively infrequent but are most likely to occur from east Texas into the southeastern states. Although derechos are extremely rare west of the Great Plains, isolated derechos have occurred over interior portions of the western United States, especially during spring and early summer.
Bottom line: If you get advance warning of a derecho headed your way, take cover, fast!
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