Texas

A heat dome in Mexico contributed to Houston’s rare derecho event on May 16, when deadly and destructive winds whipped Southeast Texas, leaving eight dead and much of the nation’s fourth-largest city without electricity, according to the National Weather Service.

The recent derecho event in Houston was only the fifth derecho reported in Texas in the past 40 years. Derechos are widespread storm systems featuring straight-line winds that occur with bands of rapidly moving thunderstorms, such as bow echoes or squall lines.

Although a derecho can produce damage similar to a tornado, two of which also were confirmed in the May 16 storms, the damage typically runs in one direction along a relatively straight swath, the weather service says.

A ridge of high atmospheric pressure has been lingering in Mexico for several weeks. This heat dome has resulted in scorching temperatures across Central America, far South Texas, and southern Florida. Heat index readings exceeded 115 degrees in Key West, marking the highest such temperatures ever recorded there......

Some of the most noteworthy Texas derecho events have occurred in May:

The Texas Boaters Derecho in 1986 was caused by a line of storms that lashed much of Southeast Texas, overturning 65 boats in the Galveston Bay during a fishing tournament and a boat race.
The Texas Derecho of 1989 started in the Panhandle and traveled 900 miles in 15 hours before stopping in Louisiana.
The People Chaser Derecho of 2001 produced 80 mph winds in Fort Worth for more than 10 minutes.
The High Wind Derecho of 2007 in North Texas produced 80 mph winds in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, taking down power lines and leaving a quarter million people without power.