A rare and violent thunderstorm complex is roaring across the upper Midwest overnight from Monday into Tuesday. The storms have unleashed gusts upwards of 90 mph, downing hundreds of trees and causing significant damage to homes and businesses, according to the National Weather Service.
This dangerous line of storms is showing some signs of developing into a derecho – a long-lasting line of storms known for producing powerful, damaging wind gusts consistently across a few hundred of miles. Derechos are rare, typically occurring in the US once or twice per year, usually during the summer in the Midwest and Mississippi–Ohio Valley corridor.
There’s a Level 4 of 5 risk of severe thunderstorms across parts of South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa through Tuesday morning, according to the Storm Prediction Center. This heightened risk level is primarily due to the potential for wind gusts more commonly found in a Category 1 hurricane, though in shorter bursts. Category 1 hurricanes have sustained winds of at least 74 mph and stronger gusts.
This same thunderstorm complex generated several tornadoes and large hail in parts of rural South Dakota and Iowa Monday evening, according to the National Weather Service.
Multiple wind gusts exceeding 80 mph have been reported, including peak gusts of 99 mph near Sioux Center, Iowa, and 92 mph near Orange City and Spencer, Iowa. In addition to countless trees down, the weather service reports several large vehicles turned over by the high winds. The primary threat remains damaging straight line winds, though more tornadoes are possible as this line of dangerous storms continues overnight.
Parts of South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota and Iowa surrounding the Level 4 area are under a level 3 of 5 risk of severe thunderstorms that could also bring damaging wind gusts, hail and even a tornado. The line of storms is expected to gradually lose its strength overnight before it reaches the Great Lakes.
Monday’s storms will be just the latest to hit the northern Plains.
Over the weekend, a cluster of severe storms and tornadoes moved through the region, resulting in numerous wind and hail reports across eastern South Dakota, southern Minnesota and northern Iowa.
Three tornadoes were reported in rural areas on Sunday night. Golf ball-sized hail, downed trees and flash flooding were reported across the Minneapolis-St. Paul area in Minnesota.
Saturated soils from weekend rain are also fueling a flash flooding risk Tuesday morning in the northern Plains, particularly across low-lying and urban zones. The Weather Prediction Center has identified a Level 2 of 4 risk of flooding rain across the region.
The severe storm threat lessens to a Level 2 of 5 risk Tuesday as stormy weather shifts south and east into the central Plains and Great Lakes. Those storms will bring yet another chance for flooding, this time in the central Plains.
For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
The post Possible derecho tears through the Midwest with hurricane-force wind gusts appeared first on CNN.
