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derecho (duh-RAY-choh) - n., a widespread, long-lived, straight-line windstorm associated with a fast-moving line of severe thunderstorms.
Exact definition is difficult to pin down as meteorologists are still debating exactly what counts as a derecho, in terms of how long-lasting or widespread a system has to be. But if there's a line of thunderstorms moving transverse to the line, and it's not related to a large-scale front, and it's got strong linear (as opposed to the twisting winds of a tornado), then you've got yourself a derecho. I name-dropped tornado there deliberately, because the word was coined in 1888 by physicist Gustavus Detlef Hinrichs from Spanish derecho, straight/direct, to distinguish the winds from tornadoes, from Spanish tornado, twisted/turned.
---L.
Exact definition is difficult to pin down as meteorologists are still debating exactly what counts as a derecho, in terms of how long-lasting or widespread a system has to be. But if there's a line of thunderstorms moving transverse to the line, and it's not related to a large-scale front, and it's got strong linear (as opposed to the twisting winds of a tornado), then you've got yourself a derecho. I name-dropped tornado there deliberately, because the word was coined in 1888 by physicist Gustavus Detlef Hinrichs from Spanish derecho, straight/direct, to distinguish the winds from tornadoes, from Spanish tornado, twisted/turned.
---L.
