US

A ‘Ring of Fire’: Just What Were the Deadly Thunderstorms That Tore Through the Eastern U.S.?

D.C. derecho

A fallen tree blocks the sidewalk and damages a park vehicle in the Dupont Circle neighborhood of Washington, Saturday, June 30, 2012. Violent evening storms following a day of triple-digit temperatures wiped out power to more than 2 million people across the eastern United States. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

The explosive line of thunderstorms that ripped through the mid-Atlantic region on Friday wasn’t any regular weather event: turns out it was a special kind of storm system called a derecho — a widespread, long-lasting band of windstorms capable of producing tornado-like damage.

The Washington Post’s Capital Weather Gang has more:

They often form along the northern boundary of a hot air mass, right along or just south of the jet stream – where upper level winds zip along at high speeds.

During summer, the jet stream atop a sprawling heat dome is sometimes called a “ring of fire” due to the tendency for explosive thunderstorms to form along this weather front separating hot, humid air to the south and cooler, drier air to the north.

According to the Post, Friday’s line of storms raced across the country at speeds of more than 60 mph. They formed west of Chicago in the late morning, approaching the Atlantic ocean by midnight. According to the Associated Press, at least 13 people were killed and two million still without power Saturday evening as the region sweltered in a triple-digit heat wave.

Watch a timelapse of the derecho’s movement across the country from Davenport, Iowa to Richmond, Va. over 14 hours:

The Post has the peak wind gusts for the Washington, D.C. region:

71 mph near Dulles Airport
70 mph in Damascus, Md.
79 mph in Reston, Va.
65 mph in Rockville, Md.
70 mph at Reagan National Airport
76 mph in Seat Pleasant, Md. (Prince George’s co.)
77 mph in Swan Point, Md. (Charles co.)
70 mph in Ashburn, Va.
69 mph in Leesburg, Va.

Were you affected by the derecho? Tell us about your experience below in the comments.

Comments (239)

  • Dagnabbit5
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 9:42pm

    I doubt God had anything to do with it. I live in Indiana and we got hit by the storm around 3pm. We had wind speeds clocked at 80 mph. Won‘t hear about it much in the mainstream news though since we’re just a midwest state (that mainly votes conservative). Lots of downed trees, fortunately no deaths and about 70,000 without power but lots of power crews from other states are already here helping restore it. Watched most of it from my front screen door. A wicked wind it was. Saw large branches snap of neighbors trees and fly a good 20 feet before landing. One neighbors fully filled above ground pool was just picked up and flipped over. Across town it blew a train car of the tracks.

    Report Post »  
    • ginge
      Posted on July 1, 2012 at 3:33pm

      You are right.God didn’t have anything to do with it. THIS IS CLIMATE WAR!!!

      Look for more. Think HAARP. Global Warming is their game and destruction is their goal. Think they can’t control the weather? Investigate.
      To the person who thinks people on this site are stupid,WONG. We are informed.

      Report Post »  
    • SamIamTwo
      Posted on July 27, 2012 at 9:45am

      Explain to me what you know about God.

      You think God is a respecter of man and would leave the conservatives out of it…you’ve not read the Bible. Read the small book of Job…not as in get a job but the man of God named Job.

      Report Post » SamIamTwo  
  • theblazerunner
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 9:37pm

    plz report these ad spam ads

    Report Post » theblazerunner  
  • Tigress1
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 9:34pm

    Your roomate’s aunt is a scam artist.

    Report Post » Tigress1  
  • abbygirl1994
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 9:33pm

    For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
    And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
    For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
    All these are the beginning of sorrows.
    Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.
    And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
    And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
    And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
    But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

    Report Post » abbygirl1994  
    • Exrepublisheep
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 9:42pm

      Real scientists says climate change, nutbags call it God. If it is God maybe he’s mad at republicans.

      Report Post » Exrepublisheep  
    • PATTY HENRY
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 10:20pm

      The ONLY “NUTBAG” is a person who doesn’t respect the CREATOR of the UNIVERSE. Child, GOD controls everything and while He gives us free choice, He has not left the Stage. People who kindly remind us to get right with GOD are doing it out of CONCERN for us. Respect that.

      Report Post » PATTY HENRY  
    • WISEPENNY
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 10:49pm

      4578. seismov seismos, sice-mos’
      Search for 4578 in KJV

      from 4579; a commotion, i.e. (of the air) a gale, (of the ground) an earthquake:–earthquake, tempest.

      See Greek 4579 (seio)

      and earthquakes, in divers places. Greek translation includes a “gale”. Found in Matthew 24:7

      Report Post »  
    • abbygirl1994
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 10:50pm

      EXREPUBLISHEEP It shows how misinformed you are of us on the right.. most of us want to see most all of Washington replaced, We have the two C’s.. corruption and cowards. So please wake up and realize.. if we have our way, we will unseat all the Democrats who voted for Obamacare against the peoples will.. the Republican’s are cowards and have done little if nothing.. both parties are corrupt, except a very few!

      Report Post » abbygirl1994  
    • Tankertony
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 11:07pm

      Haa haa ex, you fell for the Greatest Hoax Ever Foisted on Mankind!
      But then, when you don’t believe in God, you’ll believe in anything. Even little green men from Mars.
      ROFL……

      Report Post » Tankertony  
    • ProbIemSoIver
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 11:11pm

      @Exrepublisheep

      Not only is Abbygirl1994 aware of the left/right paradigm, she probably knows why the founding fathers hated Democracy and thought it was the worst form of government there was.
      It was never mentioned in the Constitution, Bill of Rights or Declaration of Independence.
      Don’t watch this 3 minute video clip. It will make you become a Conservative again or a liberal that worships and espouses the Constitution.
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RewUP-Fdhqk

      Report Post » ProbIemSoIver  
    • LuvsYeshua
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 11:39pm

      Exrepubsheep,
      It’s not my job to convince you of the Creator and Savior; however, it is my job to warn you (Ezekiel 3:18-19). Judgment is upon us, repent (admit your sins and turn from them) and know Jesus Christ. As promised by God, the world will be destroyed. These are merely birth pains.

      Report Post »  
    • Exrepublisheep
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 11:53pm

      Everyone. I happen to be a Christian who has been thru the fire more than once and been rescued by Christ nore than once. My point was to stop using God as your own personal battering ram against whatever you don’t like. It always seems to follow whenever there is a natural disaster repubs rush to blame it on some “non-believers”. God is not your personal bullyboy who will clean up your enemies list. You work for him, not the other way around.

      Report Post » Exrepublisheep  
    • TSUNAMI-22
      Posted on July 1, 2012 at 1:27am

      @ Exrepublisheep

      Real scientists says climate change, nutbags call it God. If it is God maybe he’s mad at republicans.
      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
      Maybe he’s mad at everybody who makes light of him and tries to think of him as a fictional character.

      One way or another, everybody gets the ultimate answer……sooner or later.

      Report Post »  
    • helmuit_7
      Posted on July 1, 2012 at 2:00am

      @ABBYGIRL & PROBIESOIVER I admire your focus. You are a large part of our ‘hope’. Very good clear vision, and perserverance (sp?) … @ you too PATTYH…. keep on…
      @exrepo- your short…. sorry

      Report Post » helmuit_7  
    • West Coast Patriot
      Posted on July 1, 2012 at 6:05am

      Abby and Patty, What I do not understand about both of you is how you can support a candidate that belives in doing unto others before they have a chance to do unto us? That is somewhat opposite of Christ’s teachings, and you know that what is opposite of Christ is Anti-Christ.

      Report Post » West Coast Patriot  
    • chfields62
      Posted on July 1, 2012 at 8:40pm

      It is pretty arrogant and unrealistic to think something as big as this planet, that has been around for billions of years, is somehow going to be affected by less than 100 years of “industrialized mankind”! That’s the equivalent of ******* in a lake and saying it will raise the temperature. Nothing we do short of nuking ourselves into oblivion is going to have a lasting impact on this planet. It was here long before us and it will be here long after we are gone.

      Report Post »  
    • SamIamTwo
      Posted on July 27, 2012 at 9:51am

      Exrepublisheep
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 9:42pm

      Real scientists says climate change, nutbags call it God. If it is God maybe he’s mad at republicans.

      _________________

      I’m late to the party but most scientist are true seekers of God…they may or may not know it but that void was created for people to seek God and not earthly things. And yes I know a few top scientist that are Christians. They are great apologetic individuals who were made whole by seeking God.

      Now go wrestle with God and leave the Christians alone…He caused it all…and your anger is not at us but at God.

      Report Post » SamIamTwo  
  • lilly77
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 9:22pm

    If it were true, she would not be telling anyone.

    Report Post »  
  • hillbillyinny
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 9:14pm

    Interesting Washington, DC, makes a stand and God makes a stand!

    I do believe “someone” is trying to get our attention in many, many ways. Those of us who already know Him, understand, but those who don’t believe in Him or defy Him will blame all of this on “acts of nature,“ ”global warming,“ ”climate change,” etc., etc., etc.,

    So when do the citizens of the Country turn to God and thank Him for our very existence, our freedom, our successes up until now, and return to Him for our protective covering over our nation and people? Probably never. . . sad, but true. Individuals and groups of people have become so self-centered and arrogant that Our Heavenly Father, “who wishes none to be lost,“ is allowing things to remind us exactly ”Who“ is in ”control”!

    Pray that we might convince our neighbors that they have a responsibility to serve their country, not for their country to serve them!

    Lord, console those who have been affected by these storms and other “natural disasters” that have occurred in our land–fires, floods, drought, wind, and things of which we might not even be aware yet. Without your hand covenring us, we would cease to exist. Thank you for your protection Lord, and be our Guide in Life.

    Report Post »  
    • H4dbmn
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 9:45pm

      Amen!

      Report Post » H4dbmn  
    • bravjim
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 10:10pm

      It’s the system, and they have been setting it up for years. They won‘t tell us the truth because they know it’s coming, and they are going to have their time (about 7 years), but God’s judgement will be poured out, and they will lie and tell us that it isn’t really happening, we can and will overcome all this, all the while knowing they only have 7 years, and will grow more and more aggressive and nasty.

      Report Post »  
  • am123
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 9:13pm

    These unique thunderstorms started in Chicago and ended up in Washington, DC. Hmmm….who came from Chicago and went to Washington? Oh, that’s right, the liar in chief in the White House. For those who have eyes to see with and ears to hear with, consider the following:

    “18 For who hath stood in the counsel of the LORD, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it?

    19 Behold, a whirlwind of the LORD is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked.

    20 The anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly.”

    —JEREMIAH 23:18-20

    Report Post » am123  
    • H4dbmn
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 9:51pm

      It is curious that this system is called derecho, translated means straight, like straight line. But also translates to the word right, like our rights. Our rights, “nuestros derechos” are being violated with this Obamatax ruling.

      Report Post » H4dbmn  
    • tifosa
      Posted on July 1, 2012 at 2:57pm

      or derecho= “right” as in a message to the outraged political right to stfu and let healthcare help the most needy among us. ;) Think about it…

      Report Post » tifosa  
    • TheArbiter
      Posted on July 1, 2012 at 3:58pm

      those were pretty weak storms if they came from your god. only 13 dead? that’s a pretty weak sign compared to, say, some of the frisco earthquakes, or any other number of natural disasters that have killed far more and have been occurring since time began. they were storms. if god wanted to give a sign im sure it would be a much larger scale than this capful of wind we just dealt with.

      Report Post » TheArbiter  
  • Constructionist
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 9:12pm

    Who made the rule that weather phenomena must have Spanish names?

    Report Post » Constructionist  
  • normbal
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 9:12pm

    Not bad. I like a good thunderstorm. But this was something else. Living in Monkey county (socialist occupied) Maryland for 18 years now and I’ve never seen such wind. Brought down a dead tulip Poplar tree I’d had offers of removing for upwards of $500. Thank you God. Came down in a huge crash, missed the garage by 6 feet, took out a gate I’ll fix tomorrow. I’ll spend the money elsewhere, and tithe. I gave my neighbor a cup of coffee – he had run out for some but the lines at the 7-11 were fifty-deep, and he had his two older boys come by and help with the tree when I cut it up. But the neighbors at the end of the street didn’t fare so well. Smashed a couple of cars, power went out around midnight last night and I ran a generator all day to keep two refrigerators cold, also ran a window AC unit to draw down the humidity and kept out cell phones charged. Y2K was a dry run and we‘ve had random power outages since we’ve lived here. Gets too hot, too cold, too windy, too rainy, too dry we lose power, sometimes for days on end so I’ve owned several generators since around 1997. They’ve paid for themselves in perishable food. Be prepared.

    Report Post » normbal  
  • theblazerunner
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 8:55pm

    not trying to say all storms are haarp/chemtraiil created…but a’lot are …what happens after brutal storms ? construction…jobs…think outside the box sometimes, might help.

    Report Post » theblazerunner  
    • BOMUSTGO
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 11:58pm

      I know what you mean. I work for a chemical company and make Phenolic resins for plywood, and particle board plants.Sad to say, but disasters are good for some businesses.

      Report Post » BOMUSTGO  
    • pwatkins
      Posted on July 1, 2012 at 12:02am

      Gotcha!

      Report Post »  
  • sawbuck
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 8:53pm

    Yeah yeah.. just like la nina and el nino..
    All of a sudden derecho’s has been around for years…
    Funny I never heard ONE weather person use the term until now..

    The more secular our country becomes.
    .The more the world will try to camouflage his wrath…

    I believe Insurance Companies still uses the term ..
    that is more accurate for the times we live in…
    “Acts of God”….!

    Report Post » sawbuck  
    • lassiegirldawn
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 9:10pm

      True, the Bible in Mathew speaks of this, but it still doesn’t keep people from trying to play God.

      Report Post »  
  • lassiegirldawn
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 8:44pm

    People you need to look up HARRP and see what they can do and how they are manipulating the weather and other things. This is very dangerous. Also look up Chem Trails.

    Report Post »  
    • FFTyranny
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 9:32pm

      Lol and here they come. The Alex Jones morons. The Ron Paul Lucky Charms eaters.

      The chem trails and the Harrp story is has old as my LP I can no longer play. Hey what time is Steel Plate Ventura coming over to see ya?

      Report Post » FFTyranny  
    • theblazerunner
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 9:41pm

      demonize and deflect…is that all you have ?
      dam sad.

      Report Post » theblazerunner  
    • KickinBack
      Posted on July 1, 2012 at 5:34am

      Contrails. Not Chemtrails. For the nuts, here it is in a nutshell…

      Contrails are frozen condensation from the airlines exhaust…Yes, it is VERY cold up there. In low humidity it evaporates quickly and thus is shorter. In high humidity it can’t evaporate right away and you have longer ones. They criss cross the sky not because of some diabolical grid to poison the masses, but because that’s what aircraft do.

      As for HAARP…No one can control the weather, but idiots can let others control their minds. Idiocy debunked.

      Clean up at FEMA camp 9, we’ve got a real messy one here…

      Report Post » KickinBack  
  • From Virginia
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 8:27pm

    These storms were not in our forcast at all. They hit around 10:30pm and thankfully we didn’t loose any power in our area. There is some minor tree damage – but this area (DC metro area – Northern Virginia) has been NAILED in the last few years weather-wise, so most of the weak trees were weeded out already – at least they were in our area.

    What DID happen was the internet was knocked out and that wasn’t restored until around 1:30pm – I really missed that. I didn’t realize how much time I spend on the computer and how my I rely on it – even as a phone book, which is something I don’t keep in the house anymore. I had to call my mother in California to get a phone number online because the 411 operators are USELESS!!!

    One side benefit was it DID cool things down quite a bit. It was supposed to be triple-digit ghastly all weekend (it was a FURNACE yesterday) and it cooled it down to tolerable 90′s.

    Report Post »  
  • Tigress1
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 8:27pm

    Here in Memphis, in the summer of 2003 we had a derecho, causing 90 MPH winds. The damage was unbelievable. Everyone here called it “Hurricane Elvis”. I feel sorry for these people. Hopefully, it wasn’t as bad as it was here.

    Report Post » Tigress1  
    • antrancher
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 11:55pm

      Aren’t you aware of what is going to happen in Memphis? I wouldn’t get near that fault line. Goodbye fella…

      Report Post »  
  • MainMan
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 8:26pm

    Oh God is not done with the US yet…. Look at the Forest Fires ( marshmellow roast to God) Freak storms. F5 tornado’s that stay on the ground for miles on end. Our solution instead of seeking Gods Forgiveness we push through Obama-Care. We abort more babies. We reward Greed on a massive scale….. Yes lets continue on our current path. Because I for one find this entertaining.

    Report Post » MainMan  
    • Elena2010
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 8:34pm

      Not far off the mark, my friend.

      God’s permissive will does allow for such signs and punishments.

      Report Post » Elena2010  
    • CatB
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 9:15pm

      It formed west of CHICAGO .. and headed to Washington D.C. .. anyone else see the irony of this???

      Report Post »  
    • End Times Pilgrim
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 9:15pm

      Again and again and again this government continues to betray Israel…

      At this critical hour GOD is warning all the nations:

      “If you will stand against Israel, the apple of MY eye and
      the messenger who brings MY light to all of the world,
      to pressure and destroy MY chosen people, then you will
      be against ME and I will judge you with all of MY might.”

      [“Israel does not need the USA to survive; rather the USA needs Israel to survive!!!”]

      Report Post »  
    • CharlesMartel
      Posted on July 1, 2012 at 3:29pm

      See http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2024:3-31&version=ESV
      I believe we are at verse 9 now.

      Report Post » CharlesMartel  
  • NHwinter
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 8:23pm

    HAARP maybe? Nahhh.

    Report Post » NHwinter  
  • theblazerunner
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 8:23pm

    Ignoring the Obvious
    http://www.infowars.com/ignoring-the-obvious/
    lewrockwell.com
    June 30, 2012

    “How can an otherwise sane individual become so enamored of a fantasy, an imposture, that even after it’s exposed in the bright light of day, he still clings to it – indeed, clings to it all the harder? No amount of logic can shatter a faith consciously based on a lie.”

    ~ Lamar Keene, a scam artist who posed as a psychic, describing why it was so easy to fleece people.

    **** sapiens is a creature of habit. Most people have a strong desire to do what they can to create a life (and lifestyle) that is comfortable for them. Once this is done, we curl up and settle in. We then may add the occasional improvement to this situation, but, otherwise, we prefer then to be left alone to maintain what we have created.

    Report Post » theblazerunner  
    • ProbIemSoIver
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 10:51pm

      @Blazerunner

      Yuri Bezmenov talks about ideological subversion, and how people can become so indoctrinated and brainwashed, that they refute and dismiss things even when undeniable evidence is brought before them.

      This is what the Global Elite have done to the people.
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlpODYhnPEo

      Report Post » ProbIemSoIver  
    • encinom
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 10:57pm

      Funny, that article by Disinfo wars is AJ laughing in the face of his brainwashed, tin foil hat minions. AJ is a fraud and a scam artist that knows how to sell fear and paranoia to the ignorant, red neck militia types.

      Report Post »  
    • booger71
      Posted on July 1, 2012 at 10:37am

      AJ has become a millionaire off the weak minds of others

      Report Post » booger71  
  • pwatkins
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 8:23pm

    We had some tough winds in NC too and no rain. I say manmade maybe???…and I am not talking about globalwarming or climate change…more like geo-engineering….brace yourself bc I think there is more to come. Go ahead and call me crazy, but no one else has an answer for it either. One thing for sure I am not like Al Gore and taking your money for my crazy opinion….lol.
    Prayers go out to all those that lost love ones and suffered damage.

    Report Post »  
  • I.Gaspar
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 8:19pm

    Perhaps the Flotus ate too much Mexican….That could probably change the direction of the Potomac.

    Report Post »  
    • historyguy48
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 8:27pm

      I think the thunderstorms just got tired of Obamas lying commercials. Are people really so stupid that they can’t find out the truth? If so, then we really deserve what the Communist are going to give us.

      Report Post » historyguy48  
    • crackerone
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 9:57pm

      Yep, she’d peel the paint off the nose of Air Force One!

      Report Post »  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 8:07pm

    They call them a ‘derecho.‘ Here in AZ we call them ’monsoon season.’

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
  • theblazerunner
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 8:06pm

    it is called haarp…be amazed at what freq’s can do
    “HAARP”- Chilling Information You Really Need To See!
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MUNVuMkHh8&feature=fvwrel

    in 1992…

    Report Post » theblazerunner  
    • Pillar of Fire
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 10:22pm

      Yep…the squiggle lines & blots are proof. I also see a HAARP signature @ 0:19 sec. That signature is undeniable. Could explain the booms in San Diego. The atmospheric pressures and electronic waves they play with could create horrible weather conditions that are man made. Don’t laugh…it’s real!

      Report Post »  
  • mbean
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 8:05pm

    MSNBC will be blaming “Global warming-Climate change” etc. soon……

    Report Post » mbean  
  • macpappy
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 7:54pm

    Just What Were the Deadly Thunderstorms That Tore Through the Eastern U.S.?

    Uh, deadly thunderstorms, thats what, and nothing more.

    Report Post » macpappy  
  • toomuchgovt
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 7:49pm

    Nobody wants to say it but many are thinking it, maybe God has something to say about what is happening to our country, our morals and our form of government. Or maybe it is the founders fathers hitting back.

    Report Post » toomuchgovt  
    • txjb
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 8:00pm

      I can remember back in the day , weather patterns were normal , but as the moral decay sweeps the USA & the world it gets only worse and worse . You are right .

      Report Post »  
    • ScienceIsNotEvil
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 11:13pm

      Your deity has an awful aim.

      Report Post »  
  • GO-FOR-LIBERTY
    Posted on June 30, 2012 at 7:44pm

    Well now even God dosen’t like o-care. Pay attention barry.

    Report Post »  
    • Too_Far_Gone
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 7:51pm

      He can‘t pay attention to something he doesn’t believe in.

      yet…

      Report Post » Too_Far_Gone  

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