Powerful derecho blasts through Midwest, leaving a trail of destruction

A powerful and deadly derecho swept across the Midwest on July 15, 2024, leaving an 800-km (500-mile) path of destruction from Iowa to Indiana. The storm, with wind gusts reaching up to 169 km/h (105 mph), caused extensive damage, power outages affecting hundreds of thousands, and at least one fatality. The National Weather Service issued numerous Tornado Warnings as the storm downed trees, tore roofs off buildings, and disrupted travel across the region.

A powerful and deadly derecho storm swept across the Midwest on July 15, creating an 800-km (500-mile) path of destruction from Iowa to Indiana.

The thunderstorms, packing wind gusts equivalent to a Category 2 hurricane, caused extensive damage, power outages, and at least one fatality.

The derecho, a long-lived thunderstorm complex, unleashed wind gusts reaching up to 169 km/h (105 mph), snapping trees, tearing roofs off buildings, and downing power lines. Hundreds of thousands of residents were left without power across the affected states.

A dangerous line of severe storms erupted this evening across the Midwest.

The storms warranted numerous tornado warnings from Des Moines, Iowa to Chicago, Illinois. pic.twitter.com/wsesDSYIwZ

— CIRA (@CIRA_CSU) July 16, 2024

The storm claimed the life of a 44-year-old woman in Cedar Lake, Indiana, when a tree fell onto her home. Another individual was injured by a falling tree and taken to a hospital, according to the Chicago Fire Department. Numerous calls for downed power lines, fallen trees, and collapsed porches were reported.

In Chicago, the National Weather Service (NWS) office issued 16 Tornado Warnings on July 15, the third-highest number in a single day. At one point, NWS staff had to seek shelter from the storm themselves.

Tornadoes were reported at both Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) and Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), where wind gusts reached up to 121 km/h (75 mph).

The severe weather impacted multiple states:

• Wind gusts of 169 km/h (105 mph) were recorded in Camp Grove, Illinois, and 163 km/h (101 mph) in Davis Junction.
• Hurricane-force wind gusts were reported in Lena, Illinois, and Aurora, Iowa.
• Numerous power outages and tree damage were reported from South Bend and Fort Wayne, Indiana, with wind gusts of 114 km/h (71 mph) in Athens.
• Indianapolis experienced wind gusts up to 93 km/h (58 mph).

Here's the latest information from July 15, 2024's severe weather over central Iowa

At least 1 tornado in Polk County
Extensive tree damage, downed power lines in parts of the Des Moines metro
Storm survey today to determine tornado rating and assess other damage#iawx pic.twitter.com/8vWy8l8vrh

— NWS Des Moines (@NWSDesMoines) July 16, 2024

I’m in Windsor Heights off Merle Hay and University. I think I just got hit by the tornado. pic.twitter.com/mTfsCpDNOE

— hannah jones (@hejones57) July 15, 2024

In Washington County, Illinois, officials issued an imminent dam failure warning amid a flash flood, prompting evacuations. The National Weather Service estimated 76 to 127 mm (3 to 5 inches) of rain fell in Nashville, Illinois, within 24 hours.

Travelers at O’Hare International Airport were instructed to shelter in place, with numerous planes grounded during the tornado warning. A stretch of Interstate 55 in Will County, Illinois, was closed due to downed power lines, resulting in multiple vehicle collisions.

Disaster was narrowly avoided at Chicago O'Hare International Airport tonight as dozens of airplanes carrying thousands of people sat on taxiways during a tornado warning.

A tornado was confirmed to have touched down less than 2 miles east of the airport. pic.twitter.com/Pt608Jp6pc

— Colin McCarthy (@US_Stormwatch) July 16, 2024

The NWS in Chicago plans to conduct damage surveys in nearly 30 areas to confirm whether tornadoes were responsible for the widespread damage. Extensive power outages persist, with more than 238 000 homes and businesses in Illinois and 125 000 in Indiana affected.

Attention now turns to the Northeast, where millions face severe weather threats on July 16.

References:

¹ Deadly derecho slams Chicago as storms uproot trees, rip roofs from homes along 500 mile stretch of Midwest – FOX Weather – July 16, 2024

² Derecho Causes Widespread Damage In Midwest, Including Chicago – Weather.com – July 16, 2024

Featured image credit: NOAA/GOES-East, RAMMB/CIRA