As an adjective, derecho (and derived forms derecha, derechos and derechas) can mean
“right”
(the opposite of left, as in el lado derecho, the right side), “upright” (as in el palo derecho, the upright pole), and “straight” (as in línea derecha, straight line). … As an adverb, the form is derecho.
Why is it called a derecho?
“Derecho” is a Spanish word meaning
“direct” or “straight ahead
;” Hinrichs coined it to distinguish straight-line wind damage from that produced by tornadoes.
Is derecho a Spanish word?
As an adjective, derecho (and derived forms derecha, derechos and derechas) can mean
“right”
(the opposite of left, as in el lado derecho, the right side), “upright” (as in el palo derecho, the upright pole), and “straight” (as in línea derecha, straight line). … As an adverb, the form is derecho.
Is derecho a new term?
‘
Derecho’ is not a new term
, but it’s also not a term that is thrown around often. The term actually has an Iowa tie. In 1888, Dr. Gustavus Hinrichs, who was a physics professor at University of Iowa, coined the term when describing the straight-line winds produced by thunderstorms.
What exactly is a derecho?
A derecho (pronounced similar to “deh-REY-cho”) is
a widespread, long-lived wind storm that is associated with a band of rapidly moving showers or thunderstorms
. … As a result, the term “straight-line wind damage” sometimes is used to describe derecho damage.
How old is the term derecho?
Borrowed from Spanish derecho (“straight”), this term seems to have been coined by Gustavus Detlef Hinrichs
in 1888
to contrast derechos from tornadoes, which twist; compare the etymology of tornado. Doublet of direct.
What does derecho mean in Latin?
Spanish, straight (contrasted with tornado, taken to mean “turned”), from Latin
directus
— more at direct entry 1.
What causes derecho?
They can reach over 100 mph and are caused by
air being dragged down by precipitation
. … A storm is classified as a derecho if wind damage swath extends more than 240 miles and has wind gusts of at least 58 mph or greater along most of the length of the storm’s path.
What was the worst derecho ever?
| Composite radar image as the storm moved from Indiana to Virginia | Date(s) June 29–30, 2012 | Damage costs $2.9 billion |
|---|
How does a derecho start?
Derechos happen
when the right conditions for downbursts occur over a wide area
. … These bow echoes form because the downbursts are stronger in the center of the storm. Stronger downbursts mean faster winds. The faster winds race ahead of the storm, creating a bow.
How do you say the word derecho?
— “A derecho (pronounced similar to “
deh-REY-cho
” in English … ) is a widespread, long-lived wind storm that is associated with a band of rapidly moving showers or thunderstorms.
What’s a derecho storm?
Long(er) answer: A derecho is
a line of straight-lined-wind storms that accompany fast-moving severe thunderstorms
. To earn the coveted title of “derecho,” these storms must travel more than 250 miles, produce sustained winds of at least 58 mph along the line of storms, and create gusts up to 75 mph.
What is a super derecho?
A derecho is a
fast-moving arc of severe thunderstorms
that can last half a day, travel hundreds of miles, and carve a long swath of devastating wind gusts. The winds are straight-line, not tornadic (although at times weak tornadoes may mix in).
How often does a derecho happen?
Derechos occur mainly across the central and eastern U.S., where many locations are affected
one to two times per year on average
. They can produce significant damage to structures and sometimes cause “blowdowns” of millions of trees.
When was the last derecho storm?
A derecho swept across the states of South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio on
Monday, August 10, 2020
, leaving behind widespread and utterly devastating damage in its wake, hitting central and eastern Iowa the hardest.
What are strong winds called?
Short bursts of high speed wind are termed gusts. Strong winds of intermediate duration (around one minute) are termed
squalls
. Long-duration winds have various names associated with their average strength, such as breeze, gale, storm, and hurricane.
