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Derecho comes from the Spanish adjective for "straight" (or "direct"), in contrast with a tornado which is a "twisted" wind. [5] The word was first used in the American Meteorological Journal in 1888 by Gustavus Detlef Hinrichs in a paper describing the phenomenon and based on a significant derecho event that crossed Iowa on 31 July 1877. [6]
The derecho caused notably high wind speeds of up to 126 mph (203 km/h) recorded in Iowa, with post-damage assessments of up to 140 mph (230 km/h) in some places. The derecho also spawned an outbreak of weak tornadoes, and resulted in an estimated $11 billion of damage. In addition, certain areas reported torrential rain and large hail. [69]