The National Weather Service has classified Thursday’s storm that wreaked havoc in the tri states as a derecho.
A derecho is a widespread wind storm associated with fast-moving showers and thunderstorms. The storms can be as destructive as tornadoes, but the damage is from straight-line winds.
Thunderstorms developed in the western states and intensified as they moved into eastern Iowa, western Illinois and northeast Missouri on Thursday morning and afternoon.
That included severe wind gusts in southeast Iowa and west central Illinois, including some as strong as 100 miles per hour across parts of Hancock, McDonough and Warren counties.
The weather service reported extensive tree and utility pole damage and some damage to structures, including a communications tower and grain bins.
Some of the hardest hit towns were Wyaconda, Kahoka, and Wayland in Missouri; Keokuk and Montrose in Iowa; and Nauvoo, Ferris, Carthage, and Macomb in Illinois, according to the weather service.
A brief tornado was also spotted in West Gorin, Mo., around 45 miles southwest of Keokuk.
Significant power outages continue in the region.
As of noon Friday, 36% of Ameren customers in Hancock County, 26% in McDonough County, and 12% in Warren County were still without power.
In Macomb, city hall was still without power as of noon Friday. Staff are unable to receive calls or emails.
Macomb’s yard waste center will be open extended hours this weekend, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Residents are asked to drop off branches and limbs there if possible to free up city resources.
Public Works crews will collect branches and limbs starting Monday and residents should place trees and limbs curbside by then.
In Iowa, the Lee County Board of Supervisors has declared a state of emergency authorized under Iowa State Statute.
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