Why Right Now Is the Peak Time For Destructive Straight-Line Winds

Reports of destructive, straight-line winds from severe thunderstorms hit an annual peak that we are in the midst of right now, sometimes coming in the form of a widespread wind event called a derecho.

Severe thunderstorm winds should be taken seriously: Although tornadoes often make the most headlines, high winds from severe storms contribute to major damage, and multiple deaths and injuries each year. Falling trees amid high winds in particular are an underrated, deadly danger during severe weather.

June and July stand out as the peak months for severe wind reports: In the past 10 years, the two months are neck-and-neck with an average of 4,260 and 3,996 reports, respectively, as shown in the bar graph below which uses data from NOAA's Storm Prediction Center. Those two months stand well above the shouldering months of May and August.

Thunderstorms can produce a severe wind report if there's a measured wind gust of 58 mph or greater, or if there are reports of damage to structures, trees or power lines caused by straight-line winds.

Monthly reports have numbered 5,000+ on four occasions in the past 10 years: June 2018 leads the way with an enormous 8,347 severe wind reports. Most recently, July 2023 was very active with a preliminary 5,367 reports, stretching from the Rockies to the East Coast, as shown below.

The reason for the June and July peak is fairly straightforward: Warm and humid air is most widespread and abundant east of the Rockies during this time of year, one condition favorable for thunderstorm development.

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The jet stream, which flows from west to east near the Canadian border in summer, sends disturbances over the top of this warm, humid air, fueling thunderstorm development. Sometimes, that weather pattern spawns thunderstorm complexes with widespread areas of wind damage in summer called mesoscale convective systems (MCS).

In the South, daytime heating of the warm, humid air leads to isolated or scattered pop-up thunderstorm development most days. The Desert Southwest gets into the mix in July as annual monsoon moisture makes its way into the region, causing thunderstorms to form more frequently.

Any of those thunderstorms can produce a downburst that causes wind damage in a small area on a given day.

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Steps you can take to stay safe: As with any severe weather situation, planning ahead and staying informed are key.

F​irst, know where you'll seek safe shelter if a National Weather Service warning is issued. If you live in a mobile or manufactured home, find either a sturdy building or community shelter ahead of time and know how to reach it quickly. A derecho's strongest winds can heavily damage or blow over a mobile home.

N​ext, have multiple ways of receiving NWS warnings, including by smartphone and from NOAA weather radio. These are two sources that can also wake you if a warning is issued while you're sleeping. Make sure each is charged fully before the storms arrive.

Move to shelter immediately when a warning is issued, including both severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings.

Chris Dolce has been a senior meteorologist with weather.com for over 10 years after beginning his career with The Weather Channel in the early 2000s.