A derecho ripped through the Midwest the morning of Aug. 11, with more severe thunderstorms on the way in Iowa. Derechos are similar to “inland hurricanes,” with wind gusts that can reach up to 100 mph — equal to an EF-2 tornado.
The National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center confirmed that Gary, Indiana, weathered wind gusts of about 99 mph.
The derecho started in eastern Iowa and spread through Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, causing widespread damage and more than a million power outages. Coincidentally, the storm happened a day after the anniversary of the most costly thunderstorm in U.S. history, the Aug. 10, 2020, derecho that introduced many Iowans to the term.
See what the damage is from the Midwest derecho in 2026.
What is a derecho?
Though the destruction can be similar to tornadoes, derechos usually follow a straight-line path, according to the National Weather Service. Damage tends to vary along the path, so one area may face more destruction than another close by, the NWS said. Derechos are most common from May to August.
How bad is the damage from the Aug. 11 derecho in Iowa?
As of Wednesday morning, Aug. 12, more than 20,000 people have lost power in the Quad Cities, according to MidAmerican Energy. Maquoketa city officials have declared a local community disaster period as the town works to clear up storm debris, reports WQAD.
The weather service’s Davenport office confirmed that three EF-1 tornadoes occurred in Delaware County between 7:30 and 7:50 a.m. on Aug. 11.
Derecho killed at least one in Indiana
In Indianapolis, the Aug. 11 storms left tens of thousands without power, IndyStar reported. Hoosiers received severe thunderstorm, flash flooding and tornado warnings as storms passed through the afternoon.
The city of Portage is asking residents to reduce unnecessary travel to allow crews to respond to storm damage. An investigation is underway with an explosion that may be connected to the derecho that left one person dead.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine declared a state of emergency in two counties after severe flooding hit two eastern Ohio towns. DeWine deployed 40 Ohio National Guard members to help with searches and evacuations, a spokesperson told the New York Times.
Indianapolis Star reporter Aubrey Wright contributed to this article.
Lucia Cheng is a service and trending reporter at the Des Moines Register. Contact her at lcheng@gannett.com or 515-284-8132.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Midwest-sprawling derecho leaves thousands of Iowans without power
Reporting by Lucia Cheng, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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By Lucia Cheng, Des Moines Register | USA TODAY Network
