Derecho Formation

Derecho formation is the process by which a fast-moving, bowed line of severe thunderstorms, a bow echo, organizes and sustains itself long enough to drive a widespread, damaging straight-line windstorm along a path at least 400 kilometres long. It is fed by a rear-inflow jet of dry air that plunges to the surface behind the storm line and fans outward, and it is distinguished from an ordinary squall line mainly by its sheer duration and reach, sometimes cutting a swath of hurricane-force wind damage across several U.S. states in a single afternoon and evening. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/