Deadly Derecho Leaves Trail of Destruction in the Midwest

On July 16, 2024, a series of storms began to escalate in the Midwest. The mix of high winds, tornadoes, lighting, and other dangerous weather phenomena created what the weather community calls a derecho. This storm was dangerous enough that it damaged many buildings, caused car accidents on the roads, and took the life of someone taking cover in their home, thus making it a deadly derecho.

It's important to learn from the history of this derecho storm so you can know what to do when you hear someone on the news say that you may be in danger of being in the path of this type of rough storm. To help you prepare, we'll tell you the definition of a derecho. We'll also lay out the details of the derecho that struck the Midwest this year. We'll tell you how it escalated and the damage it caused, and provide details about how quickly this storm can pass from place to place, so you know how serious it can be. Then, we'll tell you about a couple of other derechos that threatened the American landscape.

To learn more about this deadly derecho and other similar phenomena and share the most accurate information, 24/7 Tempo reviewed many different sources, including weather.com, the National Weather Service, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and more. If anything, this information should tell you how deadly wind can be in the wrong environment. (If you want to learn more about that, check out this story of the hurricane that recorded winds equivalent to an F4 tornado.)

The deadly derecho that struck the Midwest this year is not a completely infrequent event. Many have been recorded over the years. A derecho is a severe wind storm that's typically characterized by straight-line winds that last an extended amount of time. They are often accompanied by groups of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. Many meteorologists consider a real derecho to be accompanied by wind damage that extends 400 miles or more and wind gusts that register more than 58 miles per hour. There are also criteria that the damage must extend from 240+ miles to be a derecho.

Meteorologists are still researching how derechos originate. However, they have some answers, including that they're more common in warmer weather. They also often occur after a line of thunderstorms that bow out into a curved shape. That criteria helps to create those strong winds. It has been found that most derechos occur between May and August. Many derechos have occurred in Texas and southeastern states, but they can happen elsewhere, as we saw this year.

Since a derecho can involve a variety of dangerous weather phenomena, from high winds to tornadoes, they are often considered to be amongst the costliest severe storms. The path of destruction this type of storm leaves behind often includes downed power lines and trees as well as destruction to mobile homes, barns, buildings, and more. They can often lead to electrical and communication failures in the communities they impact. A derecho that occurred in 2020 in the Midwest resulted in $11 billion in damage. In that case, over 20 million people were left without power for many days.

In the case of the recent derecho, it struck on 7/16/2024 and caused a 500-mile path of destruction from Iowa to Indiana. The moderate storm started to get more serious at around 9 PM on the 16th, and tornado warnings were issued soon after in the Chicago suburbs. By 9:30 PM, all of the city of Chicago was under a Tornado Warning. Tornadoes were spotted near both the Chicago O'Hare International and Chicago Midway International Airports. At O'Hare, there were 75 mph gusts of wind. In the suburbs, the wind began at 68 mph and quickly escalated.

The derecho involved 12 confirmed tornadoes, including a category one that hit the west side of Chicago. The derecho also involved major thunderstorms with strong winds that were equal to a Category 2 hurricane. A Level 2 means that the winds were at least 96-110 miles per hour, which can cause major devastation. Through it all, 16 Tornado Warnings were issued, which was the third-most warnings ever issued since the data has been recorded.

There were various forms of destruction caused by the derecho. Sadly, a 44-year-old woman lost her life when the wind blew down a tree that fell into her home. In the Chicago neighborhood of Broadview, there was a partial garage collapse. In Crestwood, a roof was blown off of a home. Several large trees fell in other suburbs across the Midwest. The winds and weather were so bad that officials monitoring the storm also had to run for cover. In Camp Grove, Illinois, there were 105 mph wind gusts, which are the equivalent of most Category 2 hurricanes.

The deadly derecho continued to wreak havoc in other areas of the Midwest. Tornadoes were discovered in Des Moines, Iowa, which led to 105 mph winds. There were also tornadoes reported in Davenport, Iowa. That means that two of the largest cities in the state were hit. The tornado near Davenport was on the ground for eight miles. There were also hundreds of power outages reported from Iowa to Indiana. The life of another individual was lost in Cedar Lake, Indiana when another tree fell down. A truck driver was also injured when a tree fell onto the truck.

The tractor-trailer truck driver injury was not the only incident caused by the deadly derecho. Several other crashes and roadway issues occurred throughout Illinois. Part of the issue is that numerous power lines fell down, which resulted in many roadways being completely shut down in addition to car accidents. Reporters say the scene was chaotic. At one point, seven vehicles were trapped between power lines. A couple of vehicles hit each other while trying to avoid the hazards. Luckily, the worst of the derecho only lasted a couple of days, but it was still a devastating weather phenomenon.

Before this recent event, another derecho hit the Midwest in 2015. It began as a cluster of storms in Minnesota. While there, it damaged a barn and knocked down several trees. The winds grew to over 100 mph as the storm continued to down power lines and damage homes and businesses. The storms also involved lighting strikes and rain, which caused additional damage. The storms continued to move, making their way into Wisconsin and then to Kentucky. All in all, the storm traveled for 900 miles while leaving a path of destruction in its wake.

It's worth noting that deadly derechos have threatened other parts of the American landscape. One occurred in 1994. It began as a cluster of thunderstorms in Nevada that intensified as they made their way to Utah. Once there, it became the line of wind storms that define a derecho. The destructive winds hit parts of Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, and Utah. Many strong winds measured 140 mph, and many structures were damaged, with some taking over $400,000 in damages. Luckily, many parts of the state where it hit were uninhabited, so it could have been worse.

As a final thought, it's good to know how to protect yourself or your family if a derecho develops around your town. Stay away from the windows and try to make your way to the basement. If you're driving, stop driving and stay far away from power lines. If you know a strong storm is coming, try to avoid driving, as winds traveling at 30 mph are strong enough to force your car off of the world. (Want to learn about other dangerous weather phenomena? Check out this list of 16 of the most catastrophic storms in world history.)