A powerful line of severe thunderstorms known as a “Derecho” tracked across eastern Iowa and northwest Illinois on the afternoon of Monday, August 10th producing widespread straight line wind damage. A swath of damage from Benton County, through portions of Linn, Jones, Cedar, and Clinton Counties, is consistent with intermittent straight line winds in the 100-130 mph range. Maximum estimated winds were around 140 mph, which caused extensive damage to an apartment complex in southwest Cedar Rapids, IA. Straight line winds of this magnitude are equivalent to an EF3 tornado. The maximum measured unofficial wind gust was 126 mph at Atkins, Iowa in Linn County.
