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Overview

On the evening of July 15, 2024, a derecho brought very strong winds, several tornadoes, and heavy rainfall to a good portion of the Midwest. Thunderstorms initiated over central Iowa during the late afternoon hours then quickly spread east-southeast through southern Wisconsin, the northern half of Illinois, southern Michigan, and the northern/central Indiana. Significant tree damage, some structural damage, and a few tornadoes resulted from the event with observed wind speeds of 105 mph near Speer, Illinois (Stark/Marshall County line). Back building of storms during the overnight hours brought very heavy rainfall and flash flooding near and south of a Galesburg to Sullivan line. The heaviest rain fell over Fulton and Mason counties where 4-7"+ were reported. The last time a derecho impacted central parts of Illinois was back on June 29, 2023.

 

Derecho definition: (pronounced deh-REY-cho) a widespread, long-lived wind storm associated with a band of rapidly moving showers and thunderstorms. A storm is classified as a derecho if wind damage swatch extends more than 240 miles, and has wind gusts of at least 58 mph or greater, most of the length of the storm's path.

 

 

Image
Radar loop of the derecho as it moved through the Midwest July 15-16.

 

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