On Friday morning, May 8, 2009, thunderstorms that had formed into a Derecho moved from eastern Kansas into Missouri. According to NOAA’s definition, a Derecho (pronounced similar to “deh-REY-cho”) is a widespread, long-lived windstorm associated with a band of rapidly moving showers or thunderstorms.
In Joplin, Missouri the Derecho produced winds between 70 and 90 mph, causing widespread damage to trees, power poles, businesses, and homes. The winds knocked down a portion of a television tower on the west side of Joplin belonging to KSNF-TV 16; parts of it fell onto the TV studio and nearby residences. The Joplin newspaper estimated that at least 2,000 homes suffered some roof damage and at least 1,500 trees were knocked down.
For more information on the event, see the links below:
Significant Wind Damage and Tornadoes – May 8th, 2009
The ‘Super Derecho’ of May 2009
For a deeper read: If you’re a weather geek looking for a good read on the Derecho event, I recommend the publication from Forest History Today:
Derecho! The Forgotten Windstorm That Changed the Ozarks
Resources:
NWS Springfield, MO
NOAA Storm Prediction Center (SPC)