History was made around mid-day, Wednesday, June 3, 2020, when a derecho, a powerful line of storms, went through the Delaware Valley and into Southern New Jersey.
According to the National Weather Service: “a derecho (pronounced similar to “deh-REY-cho”) is a widespread, long-lived wind storm that is associated with a band of rapidly moving showers or thunderstorms. Although a derecho can produce destruction similar to the strength of tornadoes, the damage typically is directed in one direction along a relatively straight swath. As a result, the term “straight-line wind damage” sometimes is used to describe derecho damage. By definition, if the wind damage swath extends more than 240 miles (about 400 kilometers) and includes wind gusts of at least 58 mph (93 km/h) or greater along most of its length, then the event may be classified as a derecho.”
Upper Merion experienced widespread property damage, many blocked roads and thousands of customers lost electric, cable and telephone. Many are still without power as the sound of generators are common in the neighborhoods.
While three people died in Montgomery County from the storm, fortunately no lives were lost in our area.
In November 1989, a tornado touched down in King of Prussia. Read about it here.
Pictures of the damage in the UM Township Park
