South Jersey Derecho Video

I shot this video out my window at about 1:15 am when the derecho was still about 30 miles away. The thunder and lightning was incredible!

The rain was already coming down at an incredible rate and the wind was beginning to pick up. The storm was still a ways away, but the thunder and lightning was like nothing I had seen before.

Soon after I finished with this video, the lightning and wind were so bad that we hunkered down in the house - wondering what the heck kind of storm this was.

We found out the next day or so that it was considered a DERECHO, or a type of 'land hurricane' with devastating wind. A derecho is also known as a straight line storm that can pop up like a massive thunderstorm that can cause extensive destruction.

We were lucky in my neighborhood to only be WITHOUT POWER for about 3 DAYS (daytime temperature was in the 90s and night temps were in the 80s). Friends of ours in other parts of South Jersey were without power for a FEW WEEKS.

Stores all across our area were not allowed to sell food, because of the power outtages and we had to throw away most of our food after a couple of days. The temprature in our house was over 90 degrees, during the day, upstairs.