A "Derecho" Thunderstorm Complex Stormed Across Central Iowa Monday

A thunderstorm complex known as a “Derecho” moved across central Iowa during the day Monday. A Derecho is a thunderstorm complex with intense winds that is fast moving and travels a great distance. Thunderstorm wind gusts within a derecho can reach 100 MPH. The thunderstorm complex often looks like a bow on radar images. Below is the track of the derecho that made it’s way across South Dakota, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio yesterday from the Storm Prediction Center.

A derecho only occurs in the United States 1 to 3 times per year and are most common in June, July and August.

Below are some pictures of the derecho thunderstorm complex that made it across Iowa yesterday.

⁦@NWSDesMoines⁩ this is behind our house in Huxley. Straight line wind or tornado?? Lost most of our tree in the yard. Part of tree did punch a hole in wall of house and hole in roof pic.twitter.com/t5u3u2pjXv

— Steve Pietsch (@PietschSteve) August 11, 2020

Video from inside the beast. More than 20 minutes of 70-100mph gusts. Craziest experience of my life. This was near Van Horne, IA. #IAwx #derecho #derecho2020 @NWSQuadCities @NWSDesMoines https://t.co/azppET9kAk

— Nick Stewart (@NStewCBS2) August 11, 2020

This is from around in Greene County, Iowa just NW of Perry

Jim Smith the corn was suffering from the drought. Then we got a little rain last week. And now this. All eight of my corn fields look this flat and quite a bit of it snapped not just leaning. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/hFOTn1AZ7a

— Jim Smith, Ph.D. (@JimSmith87) August 11, 2020

Power lines are still covering Highway 17 south of Luther this morning. pic.twitter.com/Y9NKr4Q45B

— Taylor Kanost (@WxKanost) August 11, 2020

Good morning!☀️ Let’s talk Monday’s storms.

A long-lived, large storm complex tracked from the NE/IA border, across IA, northern IL, & northern IN. This produced widespread damage to trees, toppled several semis, & caused some structure damage.

Recap: https://t.co/AZJonw6Ykq pic.twitter.com/d7frOHNBhA

— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) August 11, 2020

Yowza 😬 https://t.co/2qVL1IaQeb

— NWS Des Moines (@NWSDesMoines) August 11, 2020

Woodward, IA #iawx pic.twitter.com/jted9NZQDM

— Rachel DrozeTV (@RachelDrozeTV) August 10, 2020

.@NWSDesMoines @EdWilsonWX13HD @spann @WxKanost Damage from Madrid, numerous uprooted trees and downed power lines + roof damage. Never seen anything like it. pic.twitter.com/mkJLya1yk4

— Quinn Douglas (@Quinn_Douglas_) August 10, 2020

Check out images of storm damage sent by viewers across central Iowa. https://t.co/nr4KD4ZbVS #iawx #SevereWX pic.twitter.com/y4rm2uEbBJ

— WHO 13 News (@WHO13news) August 10, 2020

@NWSDesMoines Devastating damage in SE Boone/SW Story County. The door pictured was a 24’x18’ that was ripped from a north facing opening and was found 1/8 mile SE of the farm. All property owners okay we spoke with. pic.twitter.com/DRzgIFuS6L

— Kyle Williams (@ksw442) August 10, 2020

Quick video I took before taking shelter in Grinnell, about 11:45. #iawx @NWSDesMoines pic.twitter.com/N5vD2qO3lR

— G. Sanders (@Professor_GS123) August 10, 2020