MOLINE, Ill. — It's official! Tuesday night's severe storm complex was a derecho. The powerful storm system comes less than a year after another strong derecho tore through the area back in December of 2021.
What is a derecho?
A derecho is a widespread, long-lived wind storm associated with bands of rapidly moving showers or thunderstorms also called bow echoes or squall lines. By definition, a swath of wind damage extending at least 400 miles long that includes wind gusts of at least 58 miles per hour along most of its length, along with periodic 75 miles per hour or greater gusts, can be classified as a derecho.
A supportive environment
A very favorable set up across the region Tuesday afternoon and evening featured extreme levels of instability located on the outer edge of a powerful dome of heat sitting across the southeast United States. This pattern, known as the "ring of fire," is infamous for producing strong to severe clusters of thunderstorms capable of widespread wind damage. That's exactly what developed during the morning hours of Tuesday across portions of South Dakota, where the storms originated.
In total, this derecho traveled nearly 700 miles and had wind speeds approaching 100 miles per hour at times. Most of the stronger wind reports, in excess of 80 miles per hour, were observed across South Dakota, while slightly lower wind speeds were observed across Iowa.
This type of derecho, called a progressive derecho, formed along a stationary boundary separating very hot, humid air, from cooler, less humid air.
Around 600 people were without power in the Iowa and Illinois Quad Cities region Wednesday morning due to the strong winds bringing down trees and power lines.
Some other storm reports from around the area:
- Fruitland, Illinois - 1-inch diameter tree limbs broken, shingles blew off
- Stockton, Illinois - 3.21 inches of rainfall
- Green Rock, Illinois - Large tree down
- Bettendorf, Iowa - 8-10 inch diameter tree limb down
How does this compare to recent derecho events?
The Quad Cities has experienced three derecho events in the past two years, one of which none of us will soon forget, that being the August 2020 derecho. That particular storm broke records for damage and strength.
In 2021, another record fell as we experienced our first December derecho.
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