Dear Tom,
While visiting southern Illinois this weekend, people were referring to Friday’s storm as an “inland hurricane.” Was it?
— Gail Robertson, Christine Steffy, Mary Essling, Daniel Beach and Sean Leidigh
Dear Gail, Christine, Mary, Daniel and Sean,
The storm was not a hurricane, but a derecho, a fast-moving and long-lasting line of thunderstorms producing an almost continuous path of straight-line wind damage that often extends a 1,000 miles. This massive thunderstorm complex was streaking east at speeds approaching 70 m.p.h. and packing peak winds in excess of 100 m.p.h. After a damage survey, Bill Davis, head of the National Weather Service in Springfield, Mo., commented that the storm was like an “inland hurricane” because of its size and hurricane-force winds, and that terminology spread.
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Write to: ASK TOM WHY, 2501 Bradley Pl., Chicago, IL 60618 or: asktomwhy@wgntv.com
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