Wind blows hard during derechos.

A derecho is defined by the National Weather Service as a wind that has wind gusts of a least 58 miles per hour and travels at least 240 miles.

A derecho will travel through a part of Illinois on average every two years.

The straight line winds associated with derechos can exceed 90 miles per hour in extreme cases. 

These winds may travel over almost half of the United States, lasting for 24 hours before they dissipate.