The severe storm system that swept through southern Iowa on Thursday is being investigated as a possible derecho.
Iowa State Climatologist Justin Glisan says the storm caused widespread damage to crop fields, outbuildings, and grain bins.
“There are varying definitions either from 250-400 miles in path length and then about 60-100 miles wide and within that path length multiple wind gusts along the path of at least 58 miles per hour.”
He says Thursday’s storms were driven by a strong low-pressure system, a cold front, and unusually warm and moist air.
“We’re in a wave train recently, so we have several disturbances coming across the Midwest.”
Glisan says the line of storms was similar to the powerful derecho that hit the state in August of 2020, but on a smaller scale.
