National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Excessive Rainfall and Significant Flooding in the Upper Midwest This Weekend

Heavy to excessive rainfall is expected over the weekend across eastern Iowa, northern Missouri, northwest Illinois and southern Wisconsin. Numerous flash floods, some with significant impacts, are expected in these areas. Heaviest rainfall will occur overnight Saturday and Sunday, so be sure to have multiple ways to receive warnings. Read More >

 

Environment
 

On August 10, 2020, a large and intense line of thunderstorms known as a "derecho" swept across much of the Midwest, producing wind damage to an area larger than 90,000 square miles. The derecho resulted in $11.5B worth of damage, making it the COSTLIEST known thunderstorm event in modern U.S. history. Peak wind gusts topped 140 mph in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and at least 26 tornadoes were spawned by the storm. More than 20,000,000 people lived in the damage footprint of the derecho, with at least 1,000,000 customers losing power -- some for more than two weeks. Numerous injuries were counted after the storm, and four people lost their lives. 

 

In the NWS Chicago County Warning Area (CWA), over 160 reports of damaging winds were received and 15 tornadoes were confirmed, including an EF-1 tornado in the Rogers Park community area of Chicago. The derecho stands as one of the most impactful weather events to ever impact the NWS Chicago County Warning Area. 

 

August 10, 2020, Midwest Derecho Story Map

 

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Additional recaps can be found on the NWS Chicago Past Events Page
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