Heat Wave of 1995 Derecho Series - Synopsis

Synopsis

A tremendously hot and humid air mass over the Great Plains contributed to the development of four powerful derechos. These particular derechos occurred during the Heat Wave of 1995. The derechos developed along the northern rim of the air mass on a stationary front.

• The first derecho (shown in green) started in Montana during the evening of July 11 and dissipated over northern Michigan and northern Wisconsin during the morning hours on July 12.

• The second, and the longest lived, of the derecho series (shown in orange) started in Montana on July 12 following the same path as the first and moved into northern Michigan on the morning of the 13th. It moved south and hit eastern Michigan and southwestern Ontario before dissipating over southern Ohio and extreme northern West Virginia at around midnight on July 14.

• The third (shown in purple) began developing in southwestern central South Dakota in the late evening hours of July 13. It moved northeast through Minnesota on the 14th. For some residents of northern Minnesota, this is the third day in a row they have been hit by a derecho.

• The fourth and final derecho of this series (shown in red), started over upper Michigan on the evening of July 14 and moved east through southern and eastern Ontario, continuing east through western and eastern New York State in the early morning hours on the 15th. Wind damage was particularly heavy in the Adirondack mountains region of upstate New York. The derecho moved into the waters of the Atlantic Ocean in the mid-afternoon hours that same day where it dissipated quickly.