The Summerland Advocate-Messenger - Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community

The decision to dismiss classes 15 minutes early, as a severe storm moved into the area, May 12, was a topic of discussion during the Summerland Board of Education’s May 17 meeting.

A wall of dirt and debris swept through the region, mid-afternoon, on May 12.

Classified as a derecho by the National Weather Service, storm created blackout conditions, brought heavy rains and hail and seemed to build in intensity.

A derecho is described as a quick-moving line of thunderstorms coupled with a windstorm. NWS defines a derecho as a storm with gusts of more than 58 mph, with a damage swath which...