Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin Could See Another Derecho This Summer

Earlier this year, the Farmers' Almanac informed most in the Midwest, particularly in Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin, that they should brace for a stormy summer. If you've lived in the Midwest for any length of time, you know the humidity and winds bring storms during the warmer months of the year.

Based on some findings from a local team of weather enthusiasts, using data and meteorological evidence across a variety of sources, Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin are expected to be at a heightened risk for a derecho, specifically in the early half of the summer.

READ MORE: Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin Should Brace for a Stormy Summer

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Like many others, I'll never forget the August 2020 derecho. It was in the dead of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it was one of the first times in my life where I was genuinely scared by what was transpiring with the weather. I was in north central Illinois, working with my peers, and the next thing I know, we were huddled in a low-clearance utility closet after seeing a significant portion of a neighboring car dealership's roof lifted by the high winds.

The derecho ripped through eastern Iowa and northern Illinois, and while rain and hail were a factor, it was also one of the first times I remember wind playing such a crucial, defining role in a storm.

Where and When Could We See a Derecho Impact Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin?:

Midwest Weather on Facebook, a reliable page run by a slew of weather enthusiasts of all ages and creeds, made a Facebook post this week noting that a significant portion of the Northern Plains/Upper Midwest/Corn Belt region is at risk for a derecho. While the region typically averages two in a season, they usually arise late in the summer. This year could be different.

Midwest Weather noted they've been tracking weather patterns that show the potential for a northwest flow that could develop at the end of June/beginning of July. The "pink area" on the map, aka the area with the greatest potential for a derecho during this stretch of time, encompasses all of Iowa and Wisconsin, and roughly 2/3rds of Illinois, up until south of Springfield.

The Criteria for a Derecho:

On the aforementioned Facebook post, Midwest Weather added necessary context for what exactly constitutes a derecho:

[....] Remember that the criteria for a derecho is now 400 miles or longer that was remade from the Storm Prediction Center last two years ago. A derecho only needs 58 MPH winds or greater with isolated 74+ MPH wind gusts, not 140 MPH - per Midwest Weather's Facebook post

For more weather-related updates for our region, check out Midwest Weather on Facebook.