Meteorologists Now Warning Of Potential Derecho Threat Monday In Minnesota

While everyone has heard of tornadoes and hurricanes, there is another dangerous wind event that, while relatively rare, can cause excessive damage.

A derecho is a widespread, long-lived windstorm associated with a band of rapidly moving thunderstorms, often producing damage comparable to a hurricane. It's characterized by strong, straight-line winds extending for hundreds of miles and can cause significant damage, including downed trees, power outages, and structural damage.

Derechos typically form on the northern edge of high-pressure systems in the summer, where warm, moist air clashes with cooler, drier air, and experts say they are more common in the Midwest and the Mississippi-Ohio Valley corridor.

On Monday, July 28, meteorologists in Minnesota and surrounding states are keeping a close eye on a band of storms that could lead to a derecho impacting the region, and they are warning residents to be prepared.

Severe Thunderstorms Could Lead To Derecho In Minnesota

Monday, July 28, could be a dangerous weather day for portions of Minnesota as meteorologists are warning that severe thunderstorm clusters forming this afternoon in South Dakota are expected to spread southeastward into Minnesota and Iowa through Monday night.

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Updates Monday afternoon have shifted the time of the storms towards more of an evening arrival in western Minnesota and late evening into the Mankato and Twin Cities areas, with the line expected to be progressively moving through the area within the matter of just a few hours.

These rapidly-moving storms could produce swaths of damaging winds, potentially 75-90 mph, and a few tornadoes are also possible.

Whether or not a derecho occurs won't be known until after the storms pass through. Generally, derechos are recognized as such after the storm has occurred and been evaluated against specific criteria.

Meteorologists analyze data and damage reports after a storm system has passed to determine if it meets the definition of a derecho.

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Either way, dangerous storms are in the region, and people in their path are advised to take the following precautions:

• Monitor the weather and stay informed: Follow National Weather Service (NWS) warnings and outlooks from the NWS Storm Prediction Center (SPC). While the NWS doesn't issue "derecho warnings," they will issue a Severe Thunderstorm Warning when a derecho threatens.
• Secure your property: Bring in or secure outdoor items, trim trees and remove dead branches, and do what's necessary to reinforce your home.
• Prepare an emergency kit and plan: This can include stocking up on non-perishable food, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, flashlights and extra batteries, a first aid kit, and sanitation and hygiene supplies. Also, establish a safe location within your home, such as an interior room on the lowest floor away from windows.

According to the National Weather Service, the last significant derecho in Minnesota occurred on May 12, 2022. This derecho brought widespread straight-line winds between 50 and 70 mph, with embedded areas of 80 to 100 mph winds. The highest wind gust recorded during this event was 94 mph in Madison, MN.

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