Deadly storms moved across the Mid-Atlantic states Friday night.  13 people were killed in a derecho type of storm.  A derecho is a complex of storms in a line shaped like a bow (of a bow and arrow).  Straight-line damaging winds are common in these storms.  In the storms Friday night, the winds reached speeds of 90mph, toppling trees and power lines.  Power was knocked out for more than 3million people. 

Derecho from June 29th, 2012. Almost has a fried egg look to the satellite structure.

We get these type of storms around here, too.  One that stands out in my mind happened on the night July3rd/4th, 1999.  A line of t’storms came roaring out of upstate New York and into New England that night.  The loudest thunder I’ve heard in my life (outside of Florida) occurred that night.  There wasn’t any significant damage reported with that derecho, mainly because it was weakening as it came through our area. 

What makes these storms worse is they quite often happen at night, while people are sleeping.  Unless they have a weather radio, people are often left vulnerable to these storms.  Even around here, weather radios are important.  Consider getting one….for any type of storm….it could save your life.

-T.J.