As a derecho approaches the central US states this February, we look at the meaning of the weather term.
This month has seen the US hit by an array of environmental hazards from coast to coast. First, a derailed train in Ohio carrying vinyl chloride leaked the hazardous materials into the atmosphere and just last week, Yosemite National Park visitors were stunned by a “crazy” rockfall at El Capitan.
But now, things are taking a stormy turn as a derecho approaches the mainland from Sunday, February 26. Let’s take a look at what this could mean for those in the States.
What is the meaning of ‘derecho’?
A derecho (pronounced “deh-REY-cho”) is a widespread storm that creates a wall of wind that can stretch for hundreds of miles. The term is not as well-known as a tornado or hurricane, although its impact can be equally destructive.
They typically occur in the spring and summer, coming in waves across the central and eastern regions of the United States.
The National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) defines a derecho as “a widespread, long-lived windstorm that is associated with a band of rapidly moving showers or thunderstorms.” For a wave of storms to be considered a derecho, it must travel at least 240 miles and reach speeds of at least 58 miles per hour. Such weather events have also been referred to as bow echoes, squall lines, or quasi-linear convective systems.
Derecho finds its meaning in Spanish
If you’re curious about the etymology of ‘derecho’, you might be interested to know that it finds its meaning in Spanish. Derecho means “right,” “direct,” or “straight ahead” in Spanish.
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It was selected as the weather term to describe such storms in 1888. Dr Gustavus Hinrichs, a physics professor at the University of Iowa, coined derecho as the descriptive term for such walls of wind.
The term ‘tornado’ is also thought to have its roots in the Spanish language. It is thought to be derived from the Spanish word “tornar,” which means “to turn.”
When was the last derecho in the US?
While derechos are weather events that can occur the world over, they largely affect the central US regions. Last summer saw four derechos back-to-back, throughout May, June, and July 2022.
The most recent derecho was on July 5, 2022. It impacted the upper midwest, causing wind damage for miles and producing two tornadoes that hit Iowa. Before that, the Great Lakes were hit in June. For several days, inhabitants of those midwest states were impacted by the derecho, with damage being particularly bad in Fort Wayne. This derecho produced four tornadoes in Ohio and one in Illinois.
In 2021, there was just one recorded derecho, in December. But the year prior saw seven derecho events recorded.
In other news, What is the meaning of ‘derecho’? Weather term explained as stormy wall nears
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