On Sunday, a significant windstorm called a derecho, swept across 5 states, knocking down trees and power lines across the South.

Southeast Texas, Central Louisiana, South Mississippi, South and parts of Central Alabama, and North Central Georgia all were affected.

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© Jacksonville Examiner
A derecho is a widespread and long-lived, violent convectively induced straight-line windstorm that is associated with a fast-moving band of severe thunderstorms in the form of a squall line, usually taking the form of a bow echo.

The bow (radar) echo formed during the early morning hours around 6 am in Southeast Texas. These storms began to quickly bow out, signaling strong winds.
The derecho intensified rapidly as it progressed into Central Louisiana.

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© WSI


The National Weather Service in Shreveport has confirmed, widespread damage in some parts of Central Louisiana was created by winds near 110 mph. In addition to the damaging winds, 4 tornadoes were confirmed along the path of the derecho. Several people were injured.

The derecho remained intense as it crossed South Mississippi, forming a sharp bow echo. Several areas of intense wind damage was confirmed by the Jackson National Weather Service. Winds as high as 100 mph were confirmed. In addition to the damaging winds, 5 tornadoes were also confirmed.

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© WSI
Two of the tornadoes were long tracked. One tornado remained on the ground for 10 miles, tracking from Simpson into Jefferson Davis County. The other tornado remained on the ground for 18 miles, tracking from Northern Covington into Southwest Smith County. One woman was killed as a result of a falling tree during the high wind event across South Mississippi.

As the derecho continued into South and Central Alabama, it began to weaken but tornadoes became more of a threat than the damaging winds as 5 tornadoes were confirmed by the Birmingham National Weather Service.

One tornado remained on the ground for 16.58 miles as it tracked across St. Clair County. Two other tornadoes were confirmed in North Alabama, with a total of 7 tornadoes confirmed across the state.

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© WSI
(Note: Over 30 tornadoes have been confirmed in Alabama since April 10)

Overall, wind damage was reported from the Mississippi state line, east across South and parts of Central Alabama to the Georgia state line, as winds of 60-70 mph moved across this area.

The long lived derecho continued to weaken as it entered into Georgia. Winds over 50 mph were confirmed in many areas. Numerous trees and powerlines were downed into the Atlanta area. Over 130 wind reports and over 20 reports of tornadoes occurred along the derecho's path.

This was a significant long lived derecho event that lasted over 13 hours!