Derecho Slams the Midwest Thursday, Storm Threat Lingers

14 May 2022, 8:39 pm

A derecho tore through the Plains and Upper Midwest on Thursday, producing widespread damaging wind gusts and a few tornadoes. The front continued to produce a few severe storms on Friday across the Midwest. A few additional severe storms are possible in the Plains and Midwest on Saturday before the next front becomes the focus for severe storms on Sunday.

Derecho Recap

This event will officially be classified as a derecho, meeting the definition from the storm prediction center which is listed below. For severe weather enthusiasts, you may notice the definition for the length of a derecho has changed from 240 miles to 400 miles, which the Storm Prediction Center updated in January of this year.

Friday’s severe storms were much less intense than Thursday’s but still produced gusty winds and penny to ping pong ball sized hail across the north-central US.

WeatherNation will keep you updated on the potential for severe thunderstorms across the middle of the nation on-air and online. If you are in the risk areas, be sure to check back for the latest updates and alerts.

About the author

Kara James

Kara has always been passionate about weather and knew from an early age that she wanted to become a meteorologist. Living in different regions of the country and experiencing weather events ranging from ice storms to tornadoes drove her to pursue a bachelor's degree in meteorology from the University of Oklahoma. Throughout college, storm chasing became a regular event for Kara, where she saw fir... Load Morest-hand the power of the atmosphere. Kara graduated cum laude from OU and decided to further her meteorology education with a Master's degree from Mississippi State University. The deadly April 27, 2011 tornado outbreak struck while Kara was studying at MSU; her first “Dixie Alley” tornado event and an up close glimpse into the destruction of the storms she so closely studied. Her broadcast career began in Elvis’ birthplace, Tupelo, Mississippi, where she earned her Certified Broadcast Meteorologist seal from the American Meteorological Society. Kara's career has included coverage of all types of severe weather including tornado events, flooding and tropical systems across multiple southern states. Recently she helped cover the 2020 Easter Sunday deadly tornado outbreak in southeast Mississippi. In her free time, you can find Kara outdoors exploring new areas with her mini poodle,Truffles. Kara is also an avid runner and frequently races in 5Ks, 10Ks and half marathons. Say hi to Kara on Twitter and Facebook!