Deadly derecho slams Chicago as storms uproot trees, rip roofs from homes along 500-mile stretch of Midwest (2024)

Deadly derecho slams Chicago as storms uproot trees, rip roofs from homes along 500-mile stretch of Midwest (1)

04:01

Deadly derecho produces 100+ mph wind gusts, tornadoes as system blasts across Chicago, Midwest

Hundreds of thousands of utility customers were left in the dark and damage has been reported along a nearly 500-mile-long path cross the Midwest when a deadly derecho developed and ripped across the Midwest on Monday.

CHICAGO – Sirens wailed across the Chicago metro for the second night in a row on Monday as a powerful and deadly derecho tore across the Midwest, leaving a nearly 500-mile-long path of destruction from Iowa to Indiana.

WHAT IS A DERECHO?

The National Weather Service in Chicago is in the process of conducting damage surveys and, as of Tuesday evening, has confirmed at least 12 tornadoes across northern Illinois, including an EF-1 on the west side of Chicago.

Deadly derecho slams Chicago as storms uproot trees, rip roofs from homes along 500-mile stretch of Midwest (2)

This satellite image captured by NOAA's GOES 16 satellite captured images of the deadly and powerful derecho as it swept across the Midwest on Monday, July 15, 2024.

(NOAA)

Thunderstorms packing wind gusts as high as a Category 2 hurricane snapped trees like twigs, tore the roofs from buildings and brought down power lines that left hundreds of thousands of people in the dark.

The derecho also claimed at least one life after officials in Indiana said a tree was brought down onto a home in Cedar Lake, killing a 44-year-old woman inside.

WATCH: DESTRUCTIVE DERECHO HITS MIDWEST, TEARING THROUGH PARTS OF IOWA, ILLINOIS, WISCONSIN AND INDIANA

NWS Chicago issues more than a dozen Tornado Warnings Monday

It was an extremely busy and exhausting night at the National Weather Service office in Chicago, which at one point even had to scramble to take shelter from the storms themselves.

Forecasters there issued 16 Tornado Warnings on Monday – the third-most Tornado Warnings issued in one day by the office. That’s behind 19 warnings issued on April 20, 2004, and 18 warnings on May 30, 2003.

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Deadly derecho slams Chicago as storms uproot trees, rip roofs from homes along 500-mile stretch of Midwest (4)


The severe weather first begin to impact the Chicago area around 9 p.m. Monday night when confirmed Tornado Warnings were issued for the western suburbs of Aurora, Oswego, Du Page and Naperville.

By 9:30 p.m., all of Chicago was placed under a Tornado Warning, with observers at Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) reporting two tornadoes, and another spotted at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD).

"We are seeing power flashes on both the O’Hare and Midway Airport webcams due to likely tornadoes and/or destructive wind gusts near those areas," the NWS said on X, formerly Twitter. "Continue to take these warnings seriously."

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Deadly derecho slams Chicago as storms uproot trees, rip roofs from homes along 500-mile stretch of Midwest (5)


O’Hare reported a peak wind gust of 75 mph – as high as a Category 1 hurricane, during the severe weather on Monday night, while both Rockford and Naperville reported wind gusts of 68 mph.

A partial garage collapse was reported in the Chicago neighborhood of Broadview, and the roof was blown off a home in Crestwood.

A video recorded in the West Town neighborhood of Chicago also showed several large trees that were brought down and blocked roadways.

The NWS in Chicago is in the process of conducting damage surveys in almost 30 different areas to confirm whether tornadoes were responsible for the copious amounts of damage across the region.

Farther to the west, the NWS office in Des Moines confirmed an EF-1 tornado touched down on Monday, making it the second tornado to move through the city this year.

Monday's tornado had winds between 100-105 mph and was on the ground for more than 7 miles.

Another EF-1 tornado was reported in Davenport, Iowa, on Monday night. The NWS said that the tornado had winds of 100 mph and was on the ground for nearly 8 miles.

The tornadoes in Des Moines and Davenport mean that two out of the three largest cities in Iowa was hit by a tornado on Monday.

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Deadly derecho slams Chicago as storms uproot trees, rip roofs from homes along 500-mile stretch of Midwest (6)


Trees snapped, power knocked out across Midwest

The powerful winds were not only limited to the Chicago area. Extensive damage has been reported across the Midwest from Iowa to Indiana, and hundreds of thousands of power outages have been reported as a result.

A 105 mph wind gust, which is as strong as a Category 2 hurricane, was reported in Camp Grove, Illinois, and a 101 mph wind gust was reported in Davis Junction.

Several other areas also reported hurricane-force wind gusts, including Lena, Illinois, and Aurora, Iowa.

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Deadly derecho slams Chicago as storms uproot trees, rip roofs from homes along 500-mile stretch of Midwest (7)

00:08

Watch: Trees block Chicago roads after powerful derecho Monday night

A video recorded in the West Town neighborhood in Chicago shows damage left behind after a powerful and deadly derecho blasted across the Midwest on Monday.

There were at least six reports of trees that fell onto homes in Indiana, including the one that claimed the life of the woman in Cedar Lake.

A tractor-trailer driver was also injured when a tree fell onto their truck while driving on Interstate 69 in Auburn, Indiana.

Damage to trees was also reported in South Bend and Fort Wayne, Indiana, and a wind gust of 71 mph was reported in Athens.

Indianapolis was also hit hard by the derecho, with a peak wind gust of 58 mph.

WHAT TO DO IF A TREE FALLS ON YOUR HOUSE

Deadly derecho slams Chicago as storms uproot trees, rip roofs from homes along 500-mile stretch of Midwest (8)

03:35

Massive trees toppled by deadly derecho south of Chicago

Cleanup operations are underway across the Midwest after a powerful and deadly derecho swept across the region on Monday night. FOX 32 Reporter Joanie Lum was in Joliet, Illinois, south of Chicago, on Tuesday morning and spoke with a homeowner who described what he and his family experienced during the chaotic storm.

Joliet, Illinois, resident Tyler Hicks told FOX 32 Chicago he was in the middle of making dinner for his family when the situation turned dangerous.

"It was horrible," he said. "We’re kind of just sitting down about to make dinner, and then we got the little warning on our phone. We didn’t know if it was actually going to hit us or not. It seemed nice and calm outside. Then, five minutes later, we heard big wind gusts and looked out the window."

That’s when he said he saw a massive tree that was brought down by the powerful winds.

Deadly derecho slams Chicago as storms uproot trees, rip roofs from homes along 500-mile stretch of Midwest (9)

04:31

Midwest, including Chicago, rocked by deadly derecho that snapped trees, damaged buildings

FOX Weather Correspondent Robert Ray was in Chicago during the derecho on Monday night and said it felt like he was in the middle of a tropical storm for nearly an hour due to the damaging wind gusts and torrential rain combined with high heat and humidity.

Hicks said part of that tree went through the roof of his home.

"It’s leaking into our bedroom now," he said. "It’s, like, damaged the whole front door and window, and hopefully, we get it out of here sometime soon. I can’t even get out of the front of the house."

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Crashes, downed power lines lead to closure of I-55 in Illinois

Deadly derecho slams Chicago as storms uproot trees, rip roofs from homes along 500-mile stretch of Midwest (10)

04:30

Storm chaser recounts 'very chaotic' scene on Illinois' I-55 after a storm toppled power lines across interstate

FOX Weather Storm Tracker Brandon Copic says several vehicles were entangled in high tension power lines that were crumpled across Interstate 55 in northern Illinois after a derecho passed through Monday night.

The powerful line of thunderstorms that swept across the region also led to numerous crashes along Interstate 55 from the Channahon area to north of Wilmington in Illinois after power lines toppled across the interstate, forcing a miles-long closure.

FOX Weather Storm Tracker Brandon Copic was caught up in the storms and described the night as "chaotic to say the least."

DERECHO TOSSES TRUCKS, PULLS POWER LINES DOWN ON I-55 OUTSIDE OF CHICAGO

Deadly derecho slams Chicago as storms uproot trees, rip roofs from homes along 500-mile stretch of Midwest (11)

Crash on I-55 in Illinois after storms topple power lines on July 15, 2024.

(Brandon Copic / FOX Weather)

"There were seven vehicles actually trapped in between high tension power lines, including a couple of trucks that crashed into each other because they hit the power line, as well as multiple vehicles that also impacted each other," he said.

The closure could last quite a while as crews work to clear the wreckage and debris from the roadway.

Deadly derecho slams Chicago as storms uproot trees, rip roofs from homes along 500-mile stretch of Midwest (12)


"There was a high-tension power line, one of the big, tall metal ones that was literally crumpled," Copic said.

The storms may now be over for portions of the Midwest, including the Chicago area, but now the focus turns to millions of people in the Northeast who are now under the threat of severe weather on Tuesday.

Deadly derecho slams Chicago as storms uproot trees, rip roofs from homes along 500-mile stretch of Midwest (2024)

FAQs

What kind of damage is most common with a derecho? ›

Although a derecho can produce destruction similar to the strength of tornadoes, the damage typically is directed in one direction along a relatively straight swath. As a result, the term "straight-line wind damage" sometimes is used to describe derecho damage.

Is a derecho a type of tornado? ›

According to the National Weather Service, a derecho is defined as “a widespread, long-lived wind storm that is associated with a band of rapidly moving showers or thunderstorms.” Although they are like tornadoes in terms of wind, they tend to follow a straight path with a direct line of damage, whereas tornadoes are ...

Is derecho a natural disaster? ›

Derechos are not “inland hurricanes” or very large tornadoes; they are a distinct weather phenomenon and should be treated as such. Yet, many people are unaware of their risk because derechos are such rare events. Fund building code changes and support structural improvement.

What is a derecho threat? ›

A Derecho is a very long lived and damaging thunderstorm. A storm is classified as a derecho if wind damage swath extends more than 240 miles and has wind gusts of at least 58 mph or greater along most of the length of the storm's path.

Can a derecho destroy a house? ›

Mobile homes, in particular, may be overturned or destroyed, while barns and similar buildings can collapse. People inside homes, businesses, and schools are sometimes victims of falling trees and branches that crash through walls and roofs; they also may be injured by flying glass from broken windows.

Is a derecho stronger than a hurricane? ›

The Short Answer: Derechos are fast-moving bands of thunderstorms with destructive winds. The winds can be as strong as those found in hurricanes or even tornadoes!

Are derechos rare? ›

Although derechos are extremely rare west of the Great Plains, isolated derecho events have occurred in the interior portions of the western United States, especially during spring and early summer. Derechos tend to occur in families or groups.

How to survive a derecho? ›

Lie flat and face-down on low ground, protecting the back of your head with your arms. If possible, avoid trees; even relatively small branches can become lethal when blown by storm winds.

When was the last derecho in the US? ›

North America
EventDate
Great Lakes serial derecho of June 2020June 10, 2020
August 2020 Midwest derechoAugust 10–11, 2020
October 2020 Northeast Serial DerechoOctober 7, 2020
December 2021 Midwest derecho and tornado outbreakDecember 15, 2021
84 more rows

What was the worst derecho in history? ›

The June 2012 Mid-Atlantic and Midwest derecho was one of the deadliest and most destructive fast-moving severe thunderstorm complexes in North American history.

Why do they call it a derecho? ›

Their destruction can be similar to that of tornadoes, but it is typically in one direction, along a fairly straight path, the weather service says – hence it's name, which is Spanish for “straight ahead.” Derecho damage is frequently referred to as straight-line wind damage.

Are derechos worse than tornadoes? ›

Derechos cause more fatalities than EF0 and EF1 tornadoes combined in spite of the fact that EF0 and EF1 tornadoes comprise over 80% of all recorded tornadoes. This is primarily due to the derecho's typical broad path of high winds and subsequent damage.

How long does a derecho last? ›

A derecho-producing convective system may remain active for many hours and, occasionally, over multiple days.

Can a derecho cause a tsunami? ›

Examples of meteotsunamis:

After ruling out other sources, scientists determined the waves had been generated by a derecho (a high-speed windstorm associated with a strong band of thunderstorms) that had passed through the area hours earlier.

What damage was caused by the derecho? ›

Winds within a derecho can be as strong as a tornado, knocking out trees, powerlines, mobile homes, barns and other similar structures, according to the Storm Prediction Center.

What is the most common storm damage? ›

The Most Common Type of Storm Damage

Annually, flooding is the most common and extensive form of storm damage that occurs in the United States. Even during high wind events like tropical storms or hurricanes, the majority of the damage comes from the flooding rains from the storms and not the destructive winds.

How rare is a derecho storm? ›

Derechos are a relatively rare event, as they only tend to occur from once a year to once every four years across portions of the eastern two-thirds of the U.S., according to the National Weather Service.

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