A powerful derecho — a fast-moving line of severe thunderstorms with sustained hurricane-force winds — has carved a 500-mile path of destruction across Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana, causing an estimated $4 billion in damage and killing 8 people.
Storm Details
The derecho sustained winds of 90-120 mph over a 7-hour period as it raced eastward from central Iowa to eastern Indiana.
- Maximum recorded wind gust: 126 mph near Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- 500-mile damage path, 60 miles wide at its peak
- 1.8 million customers lost power across 3 states
- 8 fatalities, 147 injuries requiring hospitalization
- Grain elevator and agricultural infrastructure damage estimated at $1.2 billion alone
Agricultural Impact
The derecho struck during the early corn and soybean growing season, flattening newly planted fields and destroying grain storage facilities. USDA has activated emergency crop insurance provisions for affected counties. The 2020 Iowa derecho caused $11 billion in damage, and while this event is smaller, its impact on 2026 crop yields will be significant for the affected region.
