Published: 16th Jul, 2022
Context
States of Nebraska, Minnesota and Illinois in the US were hit by a storm system called a ‘Derecho’.
- As the storm rolled in, winds gusting at around 140 km per hour, snapped power lines and knocked down trees.
About
- Derecho, according to US's National Weather Service "a widespread, long-lasting, direct storm" associated with "a fast-moving rain belt or thunderstorm".
- The word comes from the Spanish word ‘la derecha’ meaning ‘straight’. Straight storms are those where thunderstorms do not change unlike a hurricane.
- These storms travel hundreds of miles and occupy a large area.
- As it is a warmer climate, Derecho usually - not always - occurs during the summer from May, and hits hard in June and July.
- However, they are rare compared to other storm systems such as hurricanes or hurricanes.
Classification
- For a storm to be classified as a derecho it must have wind gusts of at least 93 km per hour. The Wind damage swath extending more than 400 km.
- According to University of Oklahama’s School of Meteorology, the time gap between successive wind damage events should not be more than three hours.
Types of Derecho
- Progressive: A progressive derecho is associated with a short line of thunderstorms that may travel for hundreds of miles along a relatively narrow path. It is a summer phenomenon.
- Serial: A serial derecho, on the other hand, has an extensive squall line wide and long sweeping across a large area. It usually occurs during spring or fall.
- Hybrid: Hybrid ones have the features of both progressive and serial derechos.
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What happens in during Derecho?
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