I am sure you are right about the dates that terminology began. However, until about 5 years ago, no one in the general public had ever heard of them. Now the use of them is overdone. There is a concerted effort by the weather media to terrify the general public at every opportunity. The more menacing sounding, the better.
Derecho - never knew what it was, and now I've lived through it
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I am sure you are right about the dates that terminology began. However, until about 5 years ago, no one in the general public had ever heard of them. Now the use of them is overdone. There is a concerted effort by the weather media to terrify the general public at every opportunity. The more menacing sounding, the better.
With all possible respect, this storm did deserve its own name, and was indeed terrifying. I'm in my 40's, and like I mentioned done storm chasing in my past...this was like something I have never seen before. The devastation is just terrible...
I bought a nice genny (5500 watt) a couple months ago off Craigslist for $200. My beautiful bride mocked me at the time, wondering why I was wasting so much cash...she was grateful the last several days ;-) I got power the other day, and now have it lent out to co-workers. Genny's of half the size are selling for 4 figures right now.
Like the Clinton Inaugural Day Storm except nobody knew about it outside of the PNW.
I survived Typhoon Haiyan so I have experienced some storms.
I was on I80 by Joliet IL almost home, coming back from a trip when I got caught in Monday's storm. Rain was crazy, everybody going 25mph on the highway just to not get blown around by the wind and hydroplane and eventually stopped for a couple minutes. The damage around my neighborhood wasn't too bad though. A couple downed powerlines and trees. Lots of big branches blocking a lane or two on residential streets. Locations without power are said to not have power until another day or two per ComEd.
Sorry if it came across wrong. Looking at the pics is was devastating. Iowa has my compassion for sure. I have rode out several hurricanes here on the Gulf coast, and had Harvey dump an incredible 5 ft. of rain on us in 4 days... We flooded out.... I understand, I really do.
I don't minimize this event at all! It totally deserves a specific historical name. I only take issue with the agenda the weather media has to try to terrify the public at every chance. I have never heard of the term "Derecho" before, and Bomb Cyclone and Polar Vortex only in the last 5 years or so. I think they officially name way too many tropical storms, too. Its counterproductive in my opinion. If they name almost everything, then nothing really sticks out.
Once again, sorry about the way it came across, it was not pointed at this storm at all. Iowa has my very best wishes for a speedy recovery.
We had one back in 1998 during the state fair. The whole region got pummeled. It's known as the labor day storm.
I read about the "polar vortex" for the past 20 years... A common term in extended forecast discussions from the Weather Prediction Center. The WPC is a part of the NWS.
When the media started making a deal about this years ago I got a laugh out of it. It was them taking a term and making big deal out of a regular routine weather phenomena.
The term derecho has been in use for quite a long time. In my area in the middle Atlantic we had a severe one in the summer of 2013. It lasted for about 700 miles around the northern periphery of a large dome of high pressure over the southeast US. The jetstream drives those storms along for those great distances. That explains the forward speed of 60-70 mph of those systems.
I have learned how to read those forecast models they talk about.... The GFS, NAM Euro etc etc... Model interpretation is a art unto itself. And there are times where the "experts" get things way, way wrong. One example in my area was when the local weather service office had my area forecast with the exact same high temperature has a place 100 miles to the South and east of my area in NC... This was in the major snowstorm in January 2016. Forecast high was 41 in my area and the one 100 miles southeast of my area... Made zero sense... The 850 mB zero degree °C was right in my area in both GFS and NAM models. The Euro was trending colder than those models... So extrapolated to the surface from 850 mB it would likely be at best 34-37 degrees given the atmospheric setup. Well... The high temp was actually at midnight that Saturday am at 33°F. Temp dropped at 1 am and rain changed to snow and sleet and temp was 31°F. And it dropped to mid 20s by that Saturday afternoon with snow falling throughout the day. Way, way off from 41°F. Also.... In my area it would be exceptionally, exceptionally unusual for the temperature to be the same in Grandy NC and my area... . In a atmospheric setup like that one with a low pressure off the coast and a upper level low pressure swinging in from the West.... That forecast from the local weather service never made sense... There is what I call the "A" team there which do a very good job in general... And the "B" team which is quite poor.
Using forecast models is just a tool. Not always the end all be all. And understanding overall atmospheric setup matters a whole lot. . And knowing climatology matters a whole lot too. I have looked at literally thousands of computer model runs in the past 17 years... This is why when hurricane Florence was 8 days away... I was able to say what I said at that time... That interests above the NC/SC border needed to really watch that storm's progress. And 6 days out I said it was likely to hit between Hatteras and Wilmington NC. Using the models, understanding the large scale atmospheric setup makes that possible.
When the media started making a deal about this years ago I got a laugh out of it. It was them taking a term and making big deal out of a regular routine weather phenomena.
The term derecho has been in use for quite a long time. In my area in the middle Atlantic we had a severe one in the summer of 2013. It lasted for about 700 miles around the northern periphery of a large dome of high pressure over the southeast US. The jetstream drives those storms along for those great distances. That explains the forward speed of 60-70 mph of those systems.
I have learned how to read those forecast models they talk about.... The GFS, NAM Euro etc etc... Model interpretation is a art unto itself. And there are times where the "experts" get things way, way wrong. One example in my area was when the local weather service office had my area forecast with the exact same high temperature has a place 100 miles to the South and east of my area in NC... This was in the major snowstorm in January 2016. Forecast high was 41 in my area and the one 100 miles southeast of my area... Made zero sense... The 850 mB zero degree °C was right in my area in both GFS and NAM models. The Euro was trending colder than those models... So extrapolated to the surface from 850 mB it would likely be at best 34-37 degrees given the atmospheric setup. Well... The high temp was actually at midnight that Saturday am at 33°F. Temp dropped at 1 am and rain changed to snow and sleet and temp was 31°F. And it dropped to mid 20s by that Saturday afternoon with snow falling throughout the day. Way, way off from 41°F. Also.... In my area it would be exceptionally, exceptionally unusual for the temperature to be the same in Grandy NC and my area... . In a atmospheric setup like that one with a low pressure off the coast and a upper level low pressure swinging in from the West.... That forecast from the local weather service never made sense... There is what I call the "A" team there which do a very good job in general... And the "B" team which is quite poor.
Using forecast models is just a tool. Not always the end all be all. And understanding overall atmospheric setup matters a whole lot. . And knowing climatology matters a whole lot too. I have looked at literally thousands of computer model runs in the past 17 years... This is why when hurricane Florence was 8 days away... I was able to say what I said at that time... That interests above the NC/SC border needed to really watch that storm's progress. And 6 days out I said it was likely to hit between Hatteras and Wilmington NC. Using the models, understanding the large scale atmospheric setup makes that possible.
Couple more feet and it would have smashed the densitometer possibly causing a leak. Can’t just cut it up because it is sitting on top of the fence lose to rolling in. This is on the north side of the Corralville lake right in the middle of the mess. Just got power back to it today.
I was watching it come up as I was loading my truck up at a pump station when the power flashed then went out. As I was calling the power company I could see the wind picking up every bit of dust a mile away. Close the truck windows just in time as it blasted me. Couldn’t see out of the windows when the dust hit. Glad I was in the truck even though it was rocking around hard.
This morning, I wake up early and flip on the Weather Channel. Literally the first words I hear is "TERRIFYING WEATHER OVERNIGHT!!!" After the commercial break, the "TERRIFYING WEATHER" turned out to have been a routine lightning storm that passed over Arkansas in the early morning hours. No wind, no rain, no damage, no nothing, but a simple electrical storm up in the clouds that few if any were even aware of. Pure HYPE.
The menacing terms the weather media now uses, like BOMB CYCLONE etc. are new to the vast majority of the public. They may have been in existance for decades, but were not commonly used on the normal 6 o'clock news. When BOMB CYCLONE first came out to the public, there were many articals like this explaining it:
https://www.popsci.com/bomb-cyclone/
Here is an excerpt:
Oh, so this is no big deal?
Well, not quite. Yes, storms are over-hyped as heck these days, and it’s tempting to roll your eyes and assume all the dire predictions you’ve read are nothing but mere clickbait.
They are exactly right. "Yes, storms are overhyped as heck these days". The Weather medias one goal now is to SCARE THE BEJESUS out of the uninformed public. Its part of a greater agenda.
The menacing terms the weather media now uses, like BOMB CYCLONE etc. are new to the vast majority of the public. They may have been in existance for decades, but were not commonly used on the normal 6 o'clock news. When BOMB CYCLONE first came out to the public, there were many articals like this explaining it:
https://www.popsci.com/bomb-cyclone/
Here is an excerpt:
Oh, so this is no big deal?
Well, not quite. Yes, storms are over-hyped as heck these days, and it’s tempting to roll your eyes and assume all the dire predictions you’ve read are nothing but mere clickbait.
They are exactly right. "Yes, storms are overhyped as heck these days". The Weather medias one goal now is to SCARE THE BEJESUS out of the uninformed public. Its part of a greater agenda.
Here is what Forbes says:
Calling Every Bad Storm A 'Superstorm' Or 'Weather Bomb' Is Why People Tune Out Weather Forecasts
https://www.forbes.com/sites/dennis...ople-tune-out-weather-forecasts/#239aca224870
Calling Every Bad Storm A 'Superstorm' Or 'Weather Bomb' Is Why People Tune Out Weather Forecasts
https://www.forbes.com/sites/dennis...ople-tune-out-weather-forecasts/#239aca224870
I was out mowing when mom called. They’re just 20 mins north and had a tornado warning. It was just mostly cloudy at the time and we hardly had any wind. It started sprinkling then turned into the big drops. As soon as I got to the barn, it was pouring. Rained for about 10 mins, stopped and was calm and about 5 mins then came the rain and wind. The sequence of events was very strange to me. Thankfully we didn’t loose any trees. Many people to the north were hit very hard.
Come to find out, there was a tornado about 6 miles to the east of us. The sky didn’t look that bad to me and was quite uneventful.
Come to find out, there was a tornado about 6 miles to the east of us. The sky didn’t look that bad to me and was quite uneventful.
Gfh, stop watching The Weather Channel, and 90% of your problem will be solved. They were worthless back when I stopped taking them seriously back in 1997, and nothing has changed since then.
We get your point, but using the correct term for this event isn't weather terrorism. Still over 100,000 without power nearly a week later...
We get your point, but using the correct term for this event isn't weather terrorism. Still over 100,000 without power nearly a week later...
The "idea" of calling a rapidly developing low pressure center a "bomb" happened awhile ago. That terminology was starting to be used inside weather forecast offices at times in the 1990s. Weather service forecast discussions had it in there since I started reading them 20 years ago. . .
Fun fact for the day....
A very strong and greatly under forecast rapidly strengthening low pressure system happened in January 2000 along the Atlantic coastline. The storm dropped 20+ inches of snow in central NC and moved up the east coast. Only 12 hours away from the heaviest snowstorm to hit central NC the local forecasters had ZERO idea what was coming. And did not even forecast it happening. The storm dropped barometric pressure exceptionally fast... I think off the top of my head... Something like 48 millibars in less than 24 hours. It was indeed called a "bomb" type storm. It was such a badly missed forecast that NC State actually did a comprehensive study on that storm and forecasting errors... The forecast models were way, way off in regards to this storm obviously. Another point made in that study was how a strong upper level low can cause a instant frontal occlusion off the coast where a existing baroclinical zone already exists. That is a big part that led to the rapidly strengthening low pressure off the coast of SC that moved northward from there. The study also pointed out how forecasters needed to look at upstream observations and see if they were verifying with the model output forecast. And look at the radar and satellite pictures too... Does it actually meet up at all with the forecast models ??
All I had at that time was common sense and a constant satellite and rader loop to look at on my mom's television. Right before I headed out of my place to meet her for lunch I looked at the forecast for my area. And in the satellite and radar composite I saw a very strong upper level rotation moving eastward through Georgia with a line of severe thunderstorms ahead of that... I thought right then and there once that hit the gulf stream off the coast that would likely blow up into a major storm. Had lunch with my mom. Got to her place to watch the satellite and radar loop... And by 230 that afternoon I was convinced we were going to have a major snowstorm in my area. Radar reflectivity showed snow development in all of SC and as far west as Charlotte NC... That only expanded from there and at 330 the local weather service office out of Wakefield put out a special weather statement making mention of a possible snow event of 3-6 inches. I called my mom at her work and asked if she needed anything from the store... She said yeah and I told her we were going to get 6-10 inches of snow and maybe 12 inches. I told my mom at the store how amazing it was how quite and slow the business was at the store given we had a big snowstorm on the way. We got 11 iches of snow later that night and into the next evening.
Fun fact for the day....
A very strong and greatly under forecast rapidly strengthening low pressure system happened in January 2000 along the Atlantic coastline. The storm dropped 20+ inches of snow in central NC and moved up the east coast. Only 12 hours away from the heaviest snowstorm to hit central NC the local forecasters had ZERO idea what was coming. And did not even forecast it happening. The storm dropped barometric pressure exceptionally fast... I think off the top of my head... Something like 48 millibars in less than 24 hours. It was indeed called a "bomb" type storm. It was such a badly missed forecast that NC State actually did a comprehensive study on that storm and forecasting errors... The forecast models were way, way off in regards to this storm obviously. Another point made in that study was how a strong upper level low can cause a instant frontal occlusion off the coast where a existing baroclinical zone already exists. That is a big part that led to the rapidly strengthening low pressure off the coast of SC that moved northward from there. The study also pointed out how forecasters needed to look at upstream observations and see if they were verifying with the model output forecast. And look at the radar and satellite pictures too... Does it actually meet up at all with the forecast models ??
All I had at that time was common sense and a constant satellite and rader loop to look at on my mom's television. Right before I headed out of my place to meet her for lunch I looked at the forecast for my area. And in the satellite and radar composite I saw a very strong upper level rotation moving eastward through Georgia with a line of severe thunderstorms ahead of that... I thought right then and there once that hit the gulf stream off the coast that would likely blow up into a major storm. Had lunch with my mom. Got to her place to watch the satellite and radar loop... And by 230 that afternoon I was convinced we were going to have a major snowstorm in my area. Radar reflectivity showed snow development in all of SC and as far west as Charlotte NC... That only expanded from there and at 330 the local weather service office out of Wakefield put out a special weather statement making mention of a possible snow event of 3-6 inches. I called my mom at her work and asked if she needed anything from the store... She said yeah and I told her we were going to get 6-10 inches of snow and maybe 12 inches. I told my mom at the store how amazing it was how quite and slow the business was at the store given we had a big snowstorm on the way. We got 11 iches of snow later that night and into the next evening.
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I am sorry my comments are still being misunderstood. I am NOT commenting about the Iowa event. My heart goes out to Iowa! I am commenting on weather media hype in general.
I don't have a "problem" that I need any advice on how to fix. I tuned out the Weather Channel years ago. They are worthless. Only time I watch it now is when a hurricane is bearing down on us here. I live on the TX Gulf Coast.
I will exit here, sorry if I spoke too much. I meant no harm... its just random conversation / discussion on BITOG. Over and out.
MolaKule
Staff member
By the time the Derecho hit the Cedar Rapids area the winds hit 112 mph and lasted almost 40 minutes. I spoke to a number of older neighbors who said they had never seen such high winds for such a long time and with so much destruction.
II looked like a war zone by Tuesday Morning.
People are calling it the Iowa Hurricane of 2020.
200,000 people were without power by Monday evening. About 50,000 are still without power.
We were without power for 4 days and totally on gen power and just today the Internet and cable has been restored.
Since Bar and chain oil and gen engine oil were in short supply I made up 3 gallons of bar and chain oil and 5 gallons of 10W30 engine oil and gave it to anyone that needed it.
We had minor siding and trim damage and were one of the lucky ones.
As of today, Cranes are still lifting 3 foot diameter trees off houses and power lines. What a mess. Streets are like tunnels with brush piled up to 15 feet high in places.
We had one guy in our amateur radio club that was going around and fixing generators free of charge.
That's what we do in Iowa, people helping people.
Most people were using the gens to keep their refrigerators and freezers running to keep food from spoiling.
I had a large enough generator to power the whole house but my A/C decided to dump and I wanted thank those who found the values for the start-run capacitors. I received them from Grainger today and they have been replaced.
II looked like a war zone by Tuesday Morning.
People are calling it the Iowa Hurricane of 2020.
200,000 people were without power by Monday evening. About 50,000 are still without power.
We were without power for 4 days and totally on gen power and just today the Internet and cable has been restored.
Since Bar and chain oil and gen engine oil were in short supply I made up 3 gallons of bar and chain oil and 5 gallons of 10W30 engine oil and gave it to anyone that needed it.
We had minor siding and trim damage and were one of the lucky ones.
As of today, Cranes are still lifting 3 foot diameter trees off houses and power lines. What a mess. Streets are like tunnels with brush piled up to 15 feet high in places.
We had one guy in our amateur radio club that was going around and fixing generators free of charge.
That's what we do in Iowa, people helping people.
Most people were using the gens to keep their refrigerators and freezers running to keep food from spoiling.
I had a large enough generator to power the whole house but my A/C decided to dump and I wanted thank those who found the values for the start-run capacitors. I received them from Grainger today and they have been replaced.
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Good analogy on the hurricane. Rita left us without power for 17 days. Ike no power for 14 days. Ike storm surge literally changed the landscape.
SE TX people have a lot in common with Iowa. Before the winds even stopped you could hear chainsaws buzzing everywhere clearing homes and roads. Unlike New Orleans during Katrina, where people were shooting rifles at rescue helicopters, looting, vandalizing, and demanding transportation and unlimited food and lodging in 4 star hotels.
They also had gun confiscation during Katrina... During the looting, violence etc.
MolaKule
Staff member
I think this Derecho will be studied for some time. I am convinced there were imbedded tornadoes all along this Derecho line and here is why.
The prevailing winds were out of the northwest but many trees were literally uprooted and fell to the North. Upper level branches of trees still standing show twisted branches with complete stripping of foliage.
We were in another town NW of our home taking care of our grandboys while mom passed kidney stones. I was at Menards when it hit about 9;00AM and the winds were 50 mph and rain was horizontal. That town was without power for about 9 hours. This storm appeared to intensify as it moved east.
i say we were very lucky since a house just a block away had a front yard tree about three feet in diameter that was uprooted and its root system extended underneath the concrete front porch/entrance and the porch appears as if it had been broken up by a jackhammer.
Will have pictures as well as soon as I get them uploaded.
MolaKule
Staff member
Just to show you how ridiculous and ignorant some people can be during an emergency, the main street in our town Tuesday night and Wednesday nights saw a steady stream of gawkers burning up fuel that we needed to power our generators. Only one gas station had fuel and on emergency power, but the gas lines were sometimes over two miles long and were taking cash only because the Credit Card com lines were not functioning.
I had to travel 30 miles to get fuel for my generator from small towns north of me that had not been affected. Along one highway I traveled those 64,000 volt power line poles had been snapped at their bases like toothpicks and were protruding into the right lane. Avoiding the power line trash was interesting to say the least.
I contacted the media outlets that were up and running and requested National Guard troops since our local police were addressing emergency calls but never saw any.
The radio just reported that further investigations show the winds reached a peak of 130 mph.
https://cbs2iowa.com/news/local/gal...-wind-speeds-to-130-mph-during-deadly-derecho
Two nuclear power facilities were the only ones operational and providing power. Solar panels had been crushed and damaged and wind turbines had been locked down to prevent further damage. Just something to ponder when considering the design of future power infrastructures.
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