Destructive derecho slams Midwest with intense winds, knocking out power to over 500K households
An intense windstorm tore across a 350-mile stretch of the Midwest Wednesday, knocking out power to at least 500,000 customers as part of a multiday severe weather outbreak in the region.
An intense windstorm tore across a 350-mile stretch of the Midwest Wednesday, knocking out power to at least 500,000 customers as part of a multiday severe weather outbreak in the region.
The FOX Forecast Center confirmed a powerful derecho — a long-lived windstorm that is at least 250 miles long and 60 miles wide — started in Iowa late Wednesday afternoon before blasting through Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan and Indiana.
NOAA's Storm Prediction Center (SPC) received more than 520 reports of intense wind gusts, including many which also knocked down trees and power lines.
MAN KILLED BY FALLING TREE IN DES MOINES, IOWA, DURING SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK
Roughly 300,000 customers were still without power on Thursday afternoon, as another round of intense severe weather ignited over the region.
Some of the most significant damage was reported across the Chicago area, particularly in Joliet and Elgin, where many power outages remain.
Wind gusts exceeded 80 mph across Illinois and Wisconsin, with a 94 mph gust recorded in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
Video footage captured by Exclusive Storm Tracker Brandon Copic shows intense wind gusts and pelting rain as the severe weather moved through the area.
Several tornadoes struck parts of northern Missouri, southern Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas during Wednesday's severe storms. No deaths or injuries have been reported.
A broad 600-mile corridor stretching from eastern Missouri to northern Michigan is facing a final round of severe weather capable of producing widespread damaging winds and tornadoes.
Stay with FOX Weather as this situation continues to unfold.
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