What are derechos?

Derechos are a part of the severe weather that slides through the U.S. every summer, with 30 percent happening in the winter; they can be very dangerous.

Derechos are widespread, long-lived, straight-line wind storms associated with a fast-moving group of thunderstorms. These storms are hazardous since they can be much stronger than your average thunderstorm. Derechos can produce hurricane-force winds, huge hail, tornadoes and flooding.

Derecho formation is most favorable in a warm and humid environment with moderately strong instability and strong vertical wind shear—conditions that are most likely present between April and August. However, with the right ingredients, up to 30 percent of them can occur during the colder months.

Geographically, derechos are most common across the Midwest and from Oklahoma to the Ohio Valley; however, they can occur outside of this area. One such event was the June 6, 2020, derecho, which affected Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming. On May 16, 2024, a derecho killed eight people in the Greater Houston area as wind gusts reached 100 mph in Downtown Houston, causing many windows to be broken in high-rise apartments and power outages.

If you want to stay informed of incoming severe thunderstorms, including derechos, make sure to activate storm alerts on your Weather & Radar app. First, go to the Settings Menu by tapping on the top left icon on your home screen. Then, head down to Weather Alerts and switch the toggle button to activate.