Map of the 1991 West Virginia Derecho (courtesy of NOAA)
The 1991 West Virginia derecho was a serial derecho (storm) that started in Arkansas in the early morning hours of April 9, 1991, and made its way northeast, finally dying out over Pennsylvania late that evening.
Two people were killed and 145 were injured in the event, mainly from falling trees, flying debris, and mobile homes and trailers being overturned.[2] Western and central West Virginia were affected by hail and several roads were blocked.[3][4]
In West Virginia alone, there were 8,000 insurance damage claims for homes and businesses. More than 200,000 people lost power in the derecho. Many people experienced flickering lights and power surges. This derecho was the worst severe weather event for West Virginia since the 1974 Super Outbreak.[5]
There are several criteria for a mesoscale convective system (MCS) to be considered a derecho. The system needs to have sustained winds of 58 mph, and stretch along a boundary at least 250 miles long (400 miles since 2022). There must also be isolated wind gusts of 75 mph or greater.
This is a rather simplified list of conditions needed to form a derecho. However, when all of these conditions occur simultaneously in the atmosphere, a derecho storm system has the potential to form.
