In Houston, two powerful storms struck in 2022, with researchers finding that a derecho caused more structural damage to the city's tallest buildings than Hurricane Beryl. This suggests unique impacts of straight-line winds from derechos, which differ from the wind patterns caused by hurricanes. A new study published in Frontiers in Built Environment emphasizes the need for increased research on how these different storm types affect urban infrastructure, especially in cities vulnerable to both hurricanes and thunderstorms, such as Houston.
After analyzing the chaotic aftermath of back-to-back storms, it became evident that the derecho inflicted more damage on Houston’s skyscrapers than Hurricane Beryl did.
Researchers highlighted that derechos produce distinct wind patterns that can pose unexpected threats to urban infrastructure, necessitating further investigation into their impact on tall buildings.
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