Science fact of the day: derechos are long-lived windstorms

A derecho is a special type of windstorm that is both widespread and long-lived.

It is associated with a band of rapidly moving rain showers or thunderstorms.

Due to its strength, a derecho can produce destruction similar to a tornado, but the damage pattern from derechos occurs along notably straight lines, hence the name of these storms (“derecho” means “direct” or “straight ahead” in Spanish).