Derechos
| Derechos are wind events produce by severe thunderstorms. Therefore, the NWS will issue a Severe Thunderstorm Warning if a derecho approaches your location. Derechos cause more fatalities than EF0 and EF1 tornadoes combined in spite of the fact that EF0 and EF1 tornadoes comprise over 80% of all recorded tornadoes. This is primarily due to the derecho’s typical broad path of high winds and subsequent damage. Nearly half of fatalities attributed to derechos occur either in vehicles or boats. In boats, the vessels overturned due to the high winds and the occupants drowned. In vehicles, some fatalities occur when 18 wheelers are blown onto their sides, trees are blown onto automobiles, and vehicles are driven into trees. Besides their damaging winds, what makes derechos particularly dangerous is their forward speed – it is not uncommon for a derecho to move at 60 to 70 mph (97 to 113 km/h). At such speeds, you do not have much time to ensure your safety. This information and photos were provided to you by the National Weather Service: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |
Rope tornado near Eckelson, North Dakota
North of Grygla
I94 East of Jamestown, North Dakota