Derecho

A major derecho—an intense, fast-moving, and destructive windstorm associated with a line of severe thunderstorms—is bearing down on the Northern Plains today, with the most significant impacts expected from South Dakota into southwest Minnesota and northwest Iowa this afternoon and evening, according to AOL Weather. Wind gusts topping 75 miles per hour are likely in cities like Aberdeen, Watertown, and Sioux Falls, South Dakota, posing a serious risk of tree and structural damage, along with widespread power outages. The National Weather Service has indicated that isolated tornadoes and large hail could accompany this line of storms as well.

This derecho is being fueled by a powerful clockwise flow on the northern edge of a heat dome currently baking the central U.S. As the system organizes, the damaging winds could extend several hundred miles, with the storm’s reach potentially stretching as far east as Minneapolis-St. Paul by tonight. If you are in the path of these storms, it is essential to have a safety plan in place. Mobile and manufactured homes are especially vulnerable, and you should identify a sturdy building or community shelter ahead of time. Keep multiple ways to receive weather alerts, including smartphone notifications and NOAA weather radios, and make sure these devices are fully charged before the storms arrive. When a warning is issued, move to shelter immediately.

This event marks the second notable derecho to strike the Northern Plains this summer. In late June, a similar storm brought winds of 100 to 120 mph to Bemidji and northern Minnesota, causing extensive damage and recalling the intense derecho that hit Iowa in August 2020 with Category 4 hurricane-force winds. Today’s situation underscores the unpredictability and destructive potential of these inland hurricanes, which can cause damage tens of miles wide and hundreds of miles long, and are most common in late spring and summer across the Great Plains and Midwest.

Severe weather season in the upper Midwest is typically winding down by mid-October, but today’s forecast is a reminder that dangerous storms can still occur outside the traditional peak months, when warm and humid air clashes with strong winds. Listeners across the region should stay alert, monitor local forecasts, and be ready to act quickly if warnings are issued.

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Listeners, over the past week, the central and southern United States experienced one of the most intense and long-lived derecho events of the decade, according to the Storm Prediction Center and numerous social media storm spotters. This extraordinary windstorm began developing during the early hours of Friday, October 10th, when a powerful squall line of severe thunderstorms organized over eastern Oklahoma and northern Texas. Fueled by unseasonably warm temperatures and a surge of Gulf moisture, the system quickly strengthened before racing eastward at speeds exceeding 60 miles per hour.

By midday on Friday, the derecho had matured, producing a massive swath of damaging straight-line winds. The National Weather Service in Little Rock confirmed that winds exceeded 90 miles per hour in several Arkansas counties, toppling thousands of trees, ripping roofs from dozens of homes, and triggering widespread power outages from Little Rock eastward. Local emergency management agencies described impacts as “hurricane-like,” with initial power interruption estimates affecting more than 600,000 customers across Arkansas and western Tennessee by Friday evening.

Social media videos posted in Memphis showed semi-trucks blown over on I-40 and widespread property damage throughout the metro area. Through Friday night and into early Saturday, the derecho continued its destructive path, plowing through western Tennessee, northern Mississippi, and into Alabama. The city of Jackson, Tennessee, recorded wind gusts topping 100 miles per hour, according to surface observation data. Both the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and local hospitals in Jackson and Memphis reported numerous injuries related to wind-blown debris and collapsing structures.

By dawn Saturday, the system had moved east, finally losing strength as it passed over northern Georgia. The cumulative impact zone spanned over 700 miles and included reports of high-tension power lines downed, commercial buildings damaged, and multiple communities facing days-long utility restoration efforts. The National Weather Service stated that structural surveys will take several days to confirm the highest wind speeds and document the full breadth of damage.

Meteorologists are already calling this October 2025 derecho one of the most significant in recent memory due to the sheer area impacted, longevity, and the widespread infrastructure damage. Power utility companies warn that the toll on the grid has been immense, with many transmission lines requiring complete rebuilds. Climate Central notes that extreme weather events of this magnitude are becoming more frequent in the U.S., placing additional strain on local emergency response and energy infrastructure year after year.

Thank you for tuning in to this update on destructive windstorms across America. Come back next week for more essential weather and climate reports. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out QuietPlease Dot A I.

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In the past week, the United States has been dealing with a powerful coastal storm impacting over 120 million people along the eastern seaboard. According to The Independent, a strong low-pressure system began forming off the coast of Florida on Friday night, bringing widespread severe weather all the way up to Massachusetts. This storm system, while not technically named a derecho, features many of the same destructive elements listeners expect with these widespread windstorms: wind gusts up to 60 miles per hour, damaging coastal flooding, dangerous surf, and scattered power outages. Florida began experiencing flooding late Thursday, with reports of vehicles trapped in high water and wind gusts approaching 30 miles per hour as the system pushed northward into the Carolinas.

South Carolina got particularly hard hit, with Charleston and Colleton counties seeing major travel disruptions and localized flooding. The National Weather Service forecasted that the Springmaid Pier in Horry County was on track to see a tide crest among the top 10 highest in recorded history for that location. Much of the Outer Banks in North Carolina braced for four feet of flooding and up to five inches of rain through the weekend, with warnings that high winds could create severe coastal impacts into early next week. In North Carolina, the Outer Banks’ main highway, NC-12, was expected to close again due to ocean overwash, which is never good news for local residents or travelers.

As the storm accelerated up the coast, the Mid-Atlantic region, including Virginia and Delaware, was battening down for wind gusts up to 55 miles per hour and the risk of three feet of storm surge in some spots. Authorities in Delaware issued coastal flood watches and urged residents to take precautions as significant beach erosion and potential dune breaching were threatened. In New Jersey and New York, up to five inches of rain was expected with a high wind watch for New York City. Governor Phil Murphy urged New Jersey residents to keep a very close eye on weather alerts over the weekend.

A particularly unusual aspect of this storm is that it coincided with king tides, when the moon’s position leads to higher-than-normal coastal water levels. The Associated Press explained that Charleston saw at least a dozen city streets flooded Friday morning, and the high tide forecast was among the highest in over a century of local measurements. King tides combined with the unnamed storm created multi-day impacts, especially for the Outer Banks and Charleston. This latest nor’easter forced rapid responses with free parking for flooded-out residents, travel warnings, and possible road closures.

Meteorologists warn that even though the Atlantic hurricane season has been quiet, with only one major landfall earlier in July, the current Pacific cooling pattern known as La Nina may have longer-term effects on storms in both oceans. Social media buzzed about the unusual convergence of king tides and coastal

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Hello listeners, and welcome to today's severe weather update.

While there haven't been any confirmed derechos striking the United States in the past week, meteorologists are closely monitoring weather patterns that could produce these devastating storms in the coming days. Understanding what derechos are and how they form remains crucial as we head deeper into the fall severe weather season.

A derecho, from the Spanish word for straight, represents one of nature's most destructive weather phenomena. These are large clusters of thunderstorms that produce widespread, straight-line wind damage across vast areas. According to a January 2025 proposal led by Brian Squitieri, to be officially classified as a derecho, these windstorms must generate high winds and damage covering at least 250 miles and produce several wind gusts exceeding 74 miles per hour. The winds can reach 60 to 100 miles per hour or even higher in extreme cases.

What makes derechos particularly dangerous is their scope of destruction. While a single severe thunderstorm might damage an area only a mile or two wide, derechos can tear through regions tens of miles wide and hundreds of miles long. The cleanup and recovery efforts can stretch for weeks, and in the worst cases, relief workers from other states must assist due to the massive scope of damage and power outages.

The most devastating recent example occurred on August 10, 2020, when a derecho raked across parts of eight Midwest states, causing an estimated 12.8 billion dollars in damage. Nearly 2 million homes and businesses lost power, with some waiting weeks for restoration.

Derechos appear most frequently during late spring and summer months, with May and July each averaging over four events per year. More than 75 percent occur between April and August. The upper Mississippi Valley through the Ohio Valley faces the highest risk from May through August, with northeastern Illinois identified as ground zero for warm-season progressive derechos.

These storms can strike during daylight hours or overnight when most people are sleeping, making preparedness essential. A study found derechos claimed 153 lives over an 18-year period, with almost 70 percent of fatalities occurring outside permanent buildings, including in vehicles, boats, under trees, and while camping.

As we move through October, while derecho activity typically decreases, severe weather patterns continue evolving across the country. The current weather landscape includes a developing nor'easter off the East Coast that could bring heavy rain and wind from Florida through the Northeast, and tropical moisture from Hurricane Priscilla affecting Southern California and the Southwest.

For those in derecho-prone areas, having multiple ways to receive National Weather Service warnings remains critical. Mobile phones and NOAA weather radios can wake you during overnight storms. Anyone in a mobile or manufactured home should identify a sturdy building or community shel

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Listeners, we have breaking news this week about one of the most destructive windstorms in recent memory. On June 20, North Dakota and the north central United States were hit by a massive derecho—a long-lived, widespread windstorm associated with violently fast-moving thunderstorms. This derecho swept across more than 400 miles, bringing wind gusts of 70 to over 105 miles per hour, and left hundreds of thousands of households without power overnight. According to WeatherNation, the region saw repeated gusts well above hurricane strength, even topping 106 mph at the Bemidji Regional Airport in Minnesota. A wake-low formed behind the leading edge and kept severe winds blowing for more than an hour in some spots.

Embedded within this powerful derecho, something extraordinary happened: a tornado near Enderlin, North Dakota was initially measured as an EF-3, but just this week, after months of forensic surveys and collaboration with wind damage experts, the National Weather Service upgraded its rating to a rare EF-5. For context, EF-5 tornadoes represent the absolute maximum on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, packing winds over 200 mph and causing what meteorologists call "incredible damage." This marks the first EF-5 tornado in the United States in more than twelve years, ending a drought that began in 2013 after the Moore, Oklahoma tornado. According to Fox 13 News and AccuWeather, the Enderlin tornado was confirmed to have winds exceeding 210 mph, flipping fully-loaded rail cars, tossing one empty tanker nearly 500 feet, and sweeping entire farmsteads off their foundations.

The magnitude of this event cannot be overstated. The National Weather Service’s analysis makes it clear: several heavy train cars were lifted and thrown great distances. This not only confirmed the EF-5 classification but also showed just how powerful this tornado was—a finding only possible because of the unique damage indicators present. Meteorologist Melinda Beerends explained to the Associated Press that it's rare for a tornado to strike such objects and provide proof of EF-5 strength. Without those train cars, the true intensity might never have been documented.

Across northern South Dakota, Minnesota, and North Dakota, the derecho’s path left widespread devastation, with peaks of 60 percent of local power customers without electricity the following morning. Bemidji, Minnesota, in particular, was hammered with widespread building and tree damage, and authorities continue to assess the full impact on communities, farms, and infrastructure.

Listeners should know that derechos of this scale are not annual events in this region, but they do occur every few years. This one stands out not only for its duration and wind speeds, but for being linked to an EF-5 tornado—a combination not seen since the mid 2000s. The upgraded National Weather Service report, finalized on October 6, brings renewed attention to storm safety and preparation for future events.

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This past week has seen the United States escape any direct strikes from a classic derecho, those devastating, fast-moving lines of severe thunderstorms known for unleashing destructive winds. However, the ongoing shift in global wind and storm patterns is dominating both weather headlines and scientific discussion. According to Mongabay, climate change is fundamentally altering how, where, and with what force windstorms—including derechos—hit the country. Researchers warn that as the jet stream grows more erratic and the atmosphere warms, we can expect more unpredictability in both the timing and power of these systems.

Listeners in the Midwest and Northeast, where derechos most often strike in late spring and summer, have experienced an unusual lull following a dramatic storm season earlier in the year. Through the first days of October, national weather forecast centers have issued no new widespread destructive windstorm watches fitting the definition of a derecho—a reminder of how volatile, yet sporadic, these events have become. Texas Storm Chasers, in their October 3rd update, stressed that while there was some isolated thunderstorm activity near the Texas Gulf Coast and the Panhandle, nothing resembling a long-lived, fast-moving windstorm or organized derecho was present. Most of the severe thunderstorm activity has either been isolated or associated with tropical moisture, falling short of derecho intensity.

The main atmospheric story this week has actually been the persistence of above-average temperatures and high-pressure systems that have suppressed thunderstorm formation across much of the central and eastern United States. Analysts from Farm Progress note that U.S. agriculture is now facing a long-term challenge more from relentless drought and heat than from windstorm destruction this week. Still, the specter of enhanced windstorm activity remains close, as warmer air and land-surface changes continue to set the stage for future extreme convective events.

Researchers cited by Mongabay point out that, even in the absence of current derechos, the underlying risk is growing. Ralf Toumi and his team at Imperial College London are monitoring how climate change adds intensity to all major wind systems, and new modeling predicts a greater likelihood of high-impact, widespread wind events—including derechos—in the coming years. Meteorologists continue to warn that the atmospheric ingredients for such long-lived windstorms could come together suddenly, especially as the jet stream continues to shift and stall in unusual positions.

All eyes now turn to the coming weeks: October can sometimes still produce powerful outbreaks, especially when the jet stream dives south and interacts with warm, unstable air lingering over the country. For now, though, listeners can be thankful for a rare stretch of relative calm following an era where destructive wind events, from hurricanes to derechos, had seemed almost routine.

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Listeners, there have been no reports of any recent derechos—those massive, long-traveling windstorms spawned by rapid lines of thunderstorms—in the United States over the past week. The first days of October have brought very different weather headlines. According to Texas Weather Roundup on YouTube, almost all of Texas is experiencing continued heat and dryness, with fire danger rising in the southeastern part of the state, but widespread thunderstorms or destructive wind events have been absent. This week’s forecasts for the central and eastern United States have focused on above-average temperatures, wildfire concerns, and the impacts of Hurricane Imelda along the Carolina coast, but not on any inland windstorms commonly classified as derechos.

The meteorological discussion provided by Texas Storm Chasers details that, as of October 1, the upper air patterns are keeping the region locked under a late-summer heat dome. Scattered light showers are possible in parts of east Texas or the Panhandle, but these are few and far between, and certainly do not approach the intensity or coverage required of a derecho. Even the weather models looking into early next week only suggest a possibility of isolated storms in the Texas Panhandle—hardly the signature of a widespread, rapidly advancing, destructive squall line. In fact, the heaviest rainfall is staying offshore, and most of the central and southern states will remain hot and mostly dry through the weekend, with fire safety now a bigger issue than wind damage.

For listeners unfamiliar with the term, a derecho is a straight-line windstorm driven by fast-moving thunderstorms, known for racing hundreds of miles, toppling trees, damaging property, and sometimes causing massive power outages. Derechos are often described as inland hurricanes because their damage is severe, but they form over land from lines of storms, not from tropical cyclones. As aol.com’s weather section explains, the key ingredients are sustained, bow-shaped thunderstorm clusters with wind gusts frequently over 60 or even 100 miles per hour. None of these conditions have been met or forecasted anywhere in the U.S. this week, nor is there any indication of an imminent outbreak.

The focus going forward is on fire weather and the ongoing warmth, with La Niña conditions favored to bring drier, warmer weather into the winter. The central and southern plains are transitioning into autumn with temperatures in the 80s and 90s, and only spotty showers—without the explosive line storms required for a derecho event.

Thank you for tuning in. Be sure to come back next week for more weather updates and stories from across the country. This has been a Quiet Please production, and for more, check out Quiet Please Dot A I.

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Listeners, over the past seven days, the United States has not seen any widespread, long-lived, and destructive windstorm events associated with a line of rapidly moving thunderstorms—meaning no new derechos have been confirmed in this period. However, the threat of such storms always looms during transitional seasons, and meteorologists have been closely monitoring unsettled weather across several regions.

Despite the absence of destructive derechos, significant attention has shifted to the lasting impact from severe windstorms earlier this year. In Houston, meteorologist Daji Aswad from KPRC 2 recently received an Emmy nomination for her coverage of the 2024 derecho that struck the region. That storm left a major mark on the area, knocking out power to thousands, tearing down power lines, and causing extensive damage to homes and businesses. Daji has been highlighting ongoing recovery efforts and the strength of local communities, reminding listeners that severe windstorms can return suddenly and with little warning.

Recent weather across the Midwest has remained remarkably calm for late September, with Southwest Michigan forecasting nothing but sunny skies, foggy mornings, and crisp fall temperatures. This comes as a welcome break for residents who have dealt with extreme summer thunderstorms in past years. Van Buren, Kalamazoo, and Calhoun counties all enjoyed highs in the 70s and 80s, with stable weather and no indication of any destructive thunderstorm clusters developing. Instead of preparing for wind damage, local families have been enjoying autumn adventures—pumpkin patches and leaf-chasing dogs are the main headlines right now.

Out east, New Jersey is also steering clear of severe windstorms this week. Meteorologists forecast a notable October weather shift, with cooler air, brisk mornings, and clear skies ushered in by a dry cold front. No warnings have been issued for damaging winds or lightning-packed thunderstorms—just the standard transition to full-on autumn. Forecasters are keeping a close watch, as October can sometimes bring a surprise line of strong storms, but nothing on the scale of a derecho currently appears in the models.

While there hasn't been a new derecho or widespread destructive windstorm in the last seven days, listeners should remain aware that severe weather can erupt rapidly, especially as cold and warm air masses interact during fall. Meteorologists continue to emphasize preparedness: local agencies advise securing outdoor items, reviewing emergency plans, and staying updated with alerts, especially as we approach the colder seasons.

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Listeners, there have been no significant derechos or widespread, long-lived, and destructive windstorms tied to lines of rapidly moving thunderstorms reported in the United States in the past week. Weather across much of the country has actually trended quieter compared to the climatological average for late September. According to recent insights from the National Center for Atmospheric Research, much of the energy in the atmosphere has been dominated by tropical cyclone activity in the Atlantic and the Pacific basin, rather than the mid-latitude storm systems that typically drive major derechos here at home.

While experimental weather modeling at NSF NCAR has impressively captured early signs of cyclones and extreme rainfall elsewhere—including the forecast and rapid development of Super Typhoon Ragasa over the Pacific—such long-lived squall lines responsible for US derechos simply haven’t materialized since the beginning of this week. Furthermore, the National Weather Service and leading forecasting outlets such as FOX Weather haven’t issued any derecho warnings, watches, or reports of structurally damaging thunderstorm wind events across the US in the past seven days.

It is worth noting that sections of Michigan did see some strong thunderstorms early in the week, as Mix 95.7 in West Michigan reports, but these were localized storms without the organization, speed, or intensity required to classify as a derecho. Instead, the main concerns from these systems have mostly shifted to impacts like minor flooding and the potential for a chilly, early snow, rather than the devastating wind damage characteristic of a true derecho.

With the Atlantic hurricane season near its annual peak, the focus has shifted towards tracking tropical systems such as Hurricane Gabrielle and newly formed threats like Hurricane Humberto, as discussed by weather enthusiasts on Storm2K forums. While these storms can sometimes spawn damaging squall lines if they impact the mainland US, this past week has been free of that particular threat for much of the country.

Listeners, thank you for tuning in. For the latest and most accurate updates on extreme wind events and all other weather news, come back next week for more. This has been a Quiet Please production, and for more content or to connect, check out QuietPlease.AI.

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Listeners, this week has seen significant weather threats regarding derechos, those intense, long-lived windstorms spawned by fast-moving lines of thunderstorms. Meteorologists at AccuWeather and FOX Weather raised a heightened alert for the nation’s midsection with a particular focus on the northern Plains—including the Dakotas and Minnesota. Early this week, NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center highlighted a serious threat: a derecho was projected to blast through the region Monday, driven by a powerful cold front and setting up the potential for extensive destruction. FOX Weather reported that forecasters were particularly concerned about hurricane-force wind gusts topping 75 miles per hour, with tornadoes and large hail also possible along the storm’s track.

According to FOX Weather, storms developed over western South Dakota Monday afternoon and began racing eastward through the overnight hours. The severity of the situation prompted NOAA to issue a Level 4 out of 5 risk for parts of eastern South Dakota and southwestern Minnesota. Derechos are notorious for their vast and intense swaths of wind damage, and this event fit the bill. Multiple communities reported widespread downed trees, snapped power lines, and structural damage, while utility companies scrambled to restore power to tens of thousands who lost electricity.

The event was particularly hazardous for drivers, campers, and anyone outdoors, with mobile homes and rural areas at the highest risk from falling debris and severe winds. By Tuesday morning, numerous reports emerged of semi-trucks overturned on highways, roofs peeled off rural homes and barns, and crops flattened across hundreds of miles—a scene reminiscent of other infamous derechos in recent memory. AccuWeather explained that the straight-line winds associated with derechos can behave much like those of an inland hurricane, causing major disruptions to travel, utilities, and essential infrastructure.

This week’s derecho underscores the unpredictable and destructive power of summer convective systems. These storms are most common in the warm season, fueled by hot, humid, unstable air—a recipe that’s often in place across the Midwest and Plains this time of year. Weather officials are urging residents to stay alert to evolving forecasts, especially as conditions remain favorable for additional rounds of severe storms through this weekend. Authorities emphasize the importance of having multiple ways to receive warnings, a plan for shelter, and ample supplies should power and basic services be lost for days, as many experienced just this week.

Thanks for tuning in and be sure to come back next week for the latest on America’s most extreme weather. This has been a Quiet Please production and for more, check out Quiet Please Dot A I.

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