What caused the derecho in Iowa?

In the morning, thunderstorms, including a supercell, developed over South Dakota and tracked into central Iowa. As the thunderstorms reached central Iowa, a strong rear-inflow jet developed which caused the thunderstorm to take on a different characteristic, becoming a derecho.

What caused derecho?

A derecho happens when there's a lot of heat and moisture available and they are often tied to heat domes. Sills said climate projections point to a warmer atmosphere that will creep northward, which means this is the kind of storm Canadians can expect to see more of in the future.

What happened in derecho Iowa?

A derecho packing winds from 80 to 100 mph stormed through Iowa the day before. Heavy straight-line winds destroyed a grain elevator in Luther, Iowa. The storm, a derecho, ripped through central Iowa mid-morning on Aug. 10, 2020, taking down trees and leaving at least 480,000 Iowans without power.

Where did the derecho storm come from?

The word "derecho" was coined in 1888 by Dr. Gustavus Hinrichs, a professor of physics at the University of Iowa. Hinrichs used the term in a paper published by the American Meteorological Journal to distinguish thunderstorm-induced straight-line winds from the damaging, rotary winds of tornadoes.

How often do derechos occur in Iowa?

In Iowa, derechos occur every year or two on average. Winds above 85 mph like that of the August 10, 2020, derecho are quite unusual. While meteorologists can forecast potential severe weather outbreaks a few days in advance, predicting a derecho can be difficult.

Derecho Brings Disaster To Iowa Farms

What was the worst derecho ever?

The June 2012 Mid-Atlantic and Midwest derecho was one of the deadliest and most destructive fast-moving severe thunderstorm complexes in North American history.

How often do derecho storms occur?

The occurrence of derechos is divided into two seasons; the "warm" season which is May, June, July and August. 70% of all derechos occur during these four months. The remaining eight month comprise the "cool" season. Percent occurrences of derechos by month.

How long does a derecho last?

By definition, a derecho should have winds that persist for at least six hours; however, they can last much longer. The 2020 Midwest derecho lasted for 14 hours. Most derechos, 70%, occur during the months of May through August, the Weather Service said.

Has Iowa recovered from the derecho?

Nearly two years after Iowa derecho, recovery begins at 2-Jo's Farm in Benton County. After nearly two years in limbo, Jodi and John Philipp finally can move on from the derecho.

Is a derecho a land hurricane?

derecho, also called land hurricane, windstorm traveling in a straight line characterized by gusts in excess of 93 km (58 miles) per hour and the production of a swath of wind-generated damage along a front spanning more than 400 km (250 miles) in length.

What was the strongest derecho?

In 2020 that record was broken with a gust of 126 mph recorded in Atkins. The Iowa Derecho is among the strongest across the country on record. The highest wind speed in a derecho was recorded in Utah, which was likely aided by the mountains in the region.

What was the highest wind speed in the derecho?

In Kansas, Russell gusted to 100 mph, Garden City and Dodge City to 84 mph, Goodland to 81 mph and Colby to 68 mph. The gust in Dodge City was its highest on record. Winds associated with the derecho peaked between 80 and 100 mph in Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa, with gusts over 70 mph in Missouri, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

How long did the 2020 derecho last?

The term derecho was unknown to most everyone in Cedar Rapids until August 10, 2020, when we were faced with one head-on. The Midwest is known for flooding and tornados, but no one anticipated a fast-moving hurricane-like storm with straight-line winds of up to 140 miles per hour lasting over 45 minutes.

When was the last derecho in the United States?

aka "Heartland Derecho", A severe weather event which took place from August 10–11, 2020 across the Midwestern United States and portions of southwestern Ontario.

Was the derecho a natural disaster?

DAVENPORT, Iowa (KWQC) - The derecho that caused widespread damage across the Midwest in August is among the most expensive natural disasters to happen in the U.S. during 2020. According to the National Weather Service, the derecho comes in as the third most expensive with $11 billion in damage costs.

Where are derechos most common?

Derechos in the United States most commonly occur along two axes. One extends along the "Corn Belt" from the upper Mississippi Valley southeast into the Ohio Valley, and the other from the southern Plains northeast into the mid Mississippi Valley (figure below).

How do you survive a derecho?

At the first sign of high winds and rain, find shelter and hunker down. You're at much greater risk from a derecho if you're out in the open. Get indoors if possible and move away from windows and doors. If you are in a mobile home or car, get to a nearby building or storm shelter as quickly as possible.

Do derechos happen in Canada?

Derechos affecting this region typically develop in the U.S. Midwest and affect only a small part of the Quebec City-Windsor Corridor. This was the first event in Canada since 1999. In Southern Ontario, a derecho can be expected about once every year, to about once in every four years depending on the area.

Does Florida get derechos?

The squall line produced a serial derecho as it swept across the Florida peninsula, Cuba, and adjacent waters. The squall line reached the northern part of Florida's west coast and western Cuba between 11 p.m. and midnight (EST) on the evening of the 12th.

Can a derecho produce a tornado?

Derechos can cause hurricane-force winds, tornadoes, heavy rains, and flash floods.

Was the Dust Bowl a derecho?

Meteorologists said that the wall of dust was technically part of a derecho, which is a powerful wind storm extending more than 240 miles, with a line of quickly-moving thunderstorms.

How many trees did Cedar Rapids lose in the derecho?

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KWWL)- A new survey by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources estimates the August 10, 2020 derecho destroyed more than 7 million trees across the state of Iowa.

Are derecho winds strong?

How strong are derecho winds? By definition, a derecho must include wind gusts of at least 58 mph (50 knots or 93 km/h) or greater along most of its length. While derecho winds typically are less than 100 mph, gusts as high as 130 mph have been recorded --- equivalent to those with strong EF2 tornadoes.