Derecho leaves destruction in Cedar Rapids, eastern Iowa Monday
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (Iowa's News Now) — Yesterday's storm is classified as a derecho. A derecho is a long-lived, widespread wind storm. A derecho produces wind gusts of 58 mph or higher and produces wind damage over 240 miles. This is typically straight-line wind damage that occurs.
That's exactly what happened in the Midwest.
The baseline for wind gusts for a derecho is 58 mph, which is severe thunderstorm strength. Iowa experienced something much greater. And it lasted for over a half an hour in some spots.
There have been derechos in the past of this magnitude. In 2011 a derecho caused extensive damage in Vinton and Garrison with winds of 110-130 mph. In 1998 the "Corn Belt Derecho" produced winds of 123 mph in Washington, Iowa.
In Iowa typically there is one derecho every two years, but they are not typically to this magnitude.
