Power Outage in Altoona, IA

By the evening of August 7th a cool front had sagged into central Iowa with rejuvenated convective development. The continued heat put a damper on most severe development, however high DCAPE and strong cold pools did allow for gusty winds and subsequent tree and power line damage in Des Moines, likely the result of a microburst.

August 07, 2022

Thunderstorm Wind. Public and Law enforcement tweets about multiple trees down, including pulling down power lines, mainly on the east side of the Des Moines metro. Time estimated via radar.

August 07, 2022

A derecho swept across South Dakota and into Iowa on the evening of July 5th. This resulted in a swath of wind gust from 50 to 65 plus mph resulting in a number of power outages, tree damage, and a few damaged structures. A brief tornado occurred near Estherville with minor damage. As the bowing thunderstorm complex reach central Iowa the gusts had dropped below severe criteria given the less favorable environment with decreased deep layer shear.

July 05, 2022

Thunderstorm Wind. A 12 inch diameter tree limb fell on a power line, causing a house fire. Multiple 5 to 6 inch diameter branches down in the area as well. Time estimated by radar.

August 30, 2021

Basic Summary: A cluster of storms in northeast Nebraska and southeast South Dakota developed into the destructive derecho that raced eastward across large portions of Iowa, northern Illinois, southern Wisconsin, northern Indiana, and southern Michigan during the morning and afternoon of August 10th. The strongest winds were experienced in central and east-central Iowa where 100+ mph winds were observed. Some of the strongest winds were in an area from roughly Marshalltown, IA eastward along the Highway 30 corridor to the Mississippi River, where estimated winds exceeded 120+ mph and approached 140 mph. A number of QLCS tornadoes were also experienced within the Highway 30 corridor. One of the most remarkable aspects of the derecho was the duration of severe winds, with many areas experiencing at least periodic, if not persistent, severe level (58+ mph) winds over a roughly 30 minute time frame. As the derecho moved eastward out of Iowa, it continued to expand, but weakened from its peak strength. Winds continued to exceed severe criteria (58+ mph) in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Michigan and began to produce additional QLCS tornadoes across northern Illinois before fading out across northern Indiana and southern Michigan.||In the wake of the derecho, damage was substantial in many areas, rural and urban. Many agriculture fields, mainly corn, were flattened within the swaths of strongest winds. Initial estimates suggest at least 850,000 acres of partial or complete crop loss occurred from this event. Within urban and wooded areas extensive tree and structure damage was seen, including complete roof failure in a few instances. At its peak, total estimated customers without power exceeded 1.4 million across the affected states. In total, early estimates on losses (agriculture, infrastructure, private property) have exceeded $7.5 billion across the states affected. ||Environment: Broadly speaking, it was a ripe day for thunderstorms across the affected area with MUCAPE values often exceeding 3500-4000 J/kg by the mid morning hours concurrent with mid-upper level short wave support, and indications that any cold pool development would be strong (difference between cold pool and ambient air) and potentially long lived. For detailed environmental analysis, including soundings, please view the various local NWS office event review pages: NWS Des Moines, NWS Quad Cities, NWS Chicago, NWS Milwaukee, NWS Central Illinois, NWS Northern Indiana, or NWS Indianapolis.||Additional Details: Numerous injuries occurred during the derecho and in the aftermath during cleanup, including 4 direct and indirect deaths of which 3 occurred in Iowa (two in Poweshiek County and one in Linn County) and 1 in Indiana (Fort Wayne).||Disclaimer: The August 10, 2020 derecho resulted in widespread high-end damage across large portions of central and southern Iowa. Given the size and scope of the event and understanding that final damage and loss estimates (agriculture, infrastructure, and private property) will take months to complete, the NWS is not able to estimate the monetary impact at this time. Values may be added as more data becomes from various sources in future months.

August 10, 2020

Winter isn't done with us yet... be weather aware on Wednesday and Thursday. Contact your local electric cooperativ… https://t.co/teZKtgmCAn

@IowaRECs - February 21, 2023 21:20

@tedcruz Until climate disaster shows up and there is risk of a power outage. Cowards do what their kids and wife… https://t.co/UnReZkw0Gp

@rekunkle2 - February 20, 2023 06:11

Pleasant Hill, IA (4:59 PM) Grid Power Outage Event >> The Ting Network detected an Electric Utility Grid Power Out… https://t.co/EP9QD4c5pV

@grid_events - February 13, 2023 23:15

@TimKennedyMMA I need a transfer switch for the generator. Too many random power outages lately.

@DadWhoJokes - February 03, 2023 02:40

@Anunnak91086591 @1tonyg @JonahTillman6 Put more onus on power companies to weatherize. Plenty of winter storms her… https://t.co/XyYOoaQkwD

@chanceitup - February 03, 2023 01:40