derecho

American  

[duh-ray-choh] / dəˈreɪ tʃoʊ /

noun

• derechos
  plural

1. a widespread and severe windstorm that moves rapidly along a fairly straight path and is associated with bands of rapidly moving thunderstorms.

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• derechos
  plural

---

Etymology

Origin of derecho

1885–90; < Spanish: straight < Old Spanish < Latin dīrēctus, dērēctus direct ( def. )

---

Explanation

A derecho is a powerful, widespread, fast-moving, and destructive system of storms with extremely high-speed, straight-line winds. A derecho produces a swath of wind damage more than 240 miles long, and has wind gusts of at least 58 miles per hour. The name of this severe weather event is derived from the Spanish word derecho, which means "straight." Unlike tornadoes and hurricanes, which have rotating winds, derechos have winds that blow in a straight line. These storm systems occur mainly in North America, especially in the central and eastern regions of the United States, but they have also been documented in Europe, Asia, and South America. Most derechos occur in the warmer months, from late spring through summer.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

derecho derechos

It was the largest outage statewide since 2012 when about 670,000 customers lost power from a derecho, a widespread, straight-line wind storm associated with fast-moving severe thunderstorms.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 3, 2024

In 2020, a particularly powerful derecho -- a widespread, straight-line windstorm associated with fast-moving thunderstorms -- caused an estimated $11 billion in damage in the Midwest.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 2, 2023

The resulting plants are about one-third shorter than normal, and less likely to fall over or snap in a derecho.

From Science Magazine ● Oct. 25, 2023

A 2020 derecho storm, he added, had left residents particularly on edge.

From New York Times ● Apr. 4, 2023

The December 2021 event was a serial derecho.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 27, 2023

Farmers there have become “hyperfocused” on the risk of derechos, Lamkey says.

From Science Magazine ● Oct. 25, 2023

Progressive derechos are common in summertime patterns dominated by a high-pressure heat dome.

From Washington Post ● Jul. 6, 2022

Serial derechos are produced by storms with strong winds that bow outward, the service said.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 20, 2021

Already, shocking numbers have been put to flight by fires, derechos, and super storms, and so much worse is yet to come, according to experts.

From Salon ● Nov. 16, 2020

Out of the derechos, however, he knew he could square himself at the expense of the vice-regal government.

From The White Chief A Legend of Northern Mexico by L. Evans

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---