Looking Back at the Derecho of 2012

Eight Years Later

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Dayton, Ohio — Eight years ago today, a massive wind storm, known as a derecho, hit the Miami Valley and Southwest Ohio.

The storm of June 29, 2012, began in the Chicago area before reaching the Miami Valley at about 3:15 p.m. A total of 19 Severe Thunderstorm Warnings were issued throughout the region.

The derecho caused widespread wind damage throughout the Miami Valley with measured wind gusts over 80mph in a few locations.

Most notably, the storm caused the cancellation of the planned Freedom’s Call event at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, which was an annual public event on the base grounds.


According to the National Weather Service, a derecho is a widespread and fast-moving storm that produces damaging straight-line winds that span over a hundred miles.