【Sarah Shevon Archives】

There aren't many weather events more fearsome than a derecho. But few seemed to notice the one that just hit the U.S. Midwest.

A derecho is Sarah Shevon Archivesa powerful, long line of thunderstorms that NOAA says "produce destruction similar to that of a tornado." Such a storm system pummeled Cedar Rapids, Iowa and the surrounding region on Aug. 10. Winds hit speeds of some 110 mph — equivalent to a Category 2 hurricane.

Yet you might not have noticed, amid the nationwide chaos sown by the Trump administration's failure to quell a disease outbreak that's taken at least 168,000 American lives (as of Aug.15), the continued depravity of racist policing, a relentlessly warming climate, the Trump administration manipulating the National Park Service, and the president's candid attempts to hobble the U.S. Postal Service before Americans send in a deluge of election ballots during the worst pandemic in a century.

Mashable Light Speed Want more out-of-this world tech, space and science stories? Sign up for Mashable's weekly Light Speed newsletter. By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up!

---

You May Also Like

---

---

"Nearly every home has damage," wrote Cedar Rapids resident Ben Kaplan earlier this week. "Most big trees in the city fell. Most local businesses are closed. Every business is damaged. Most roads are impassable."

What's more, some 10 million acres of Iowa crops were damaged during the intense squall. "A staggering toll," tweeted Steve Bowen, a meteorologist and risk analyst. Well over 160,000 "customers" (which implies way more people) were still without power as of Friday.

Though a derecho itself isn't a consequence of a warming climate, the event underscores how vulnerable U.S. infrastructure is to storms that are dumping significantly more rain and hurricanes that are expected to grow more intense as the planet warms.

What follows is the grim scene. Iowa's News Now has a list of ways to help or donate.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Cecil Gott helps remove a tree that fell on his neighbors home. Credit: Charlie Neibergall / AP / Shutterstock

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

• Science
• Life
• Games
• Entertainment
• Digital Culture
• Shopping
• Tech
• Social Good

• Shop the iPad Air and iPad 11th generation for their lowest
• Rich guy Leo DiCaprio surrenders priceless art in wake of embezzlement scandal
• The struggle is real for Jon Hamm because he's hot
• Chinese hackers counted on no one clicking 'update' in decade
• Why Building a Gaming PC Right Now is a Bad Idea, Part 1: Expensive DDR4 Memory
• 9 of the most hilariously British reactions to the heat wave
• 11 adorable twins to follow on Instagram if you can't get enough of Beyoncé's bey
• DeFi could become the next big thing in finance
• Stablecoin bill advances in U.S. Senate as Trump critics call to end his crypto dealings
• Everything coming to Disney+ in August 2020

• Women's inspiring Instagram photos remind us to be kinder to our bodies
• Der Spiegel trolls Donald Trump on Snapchat over fake Time cover
• Lin Manuel
• Facebook internal investigation finds millions of members in QAnon groups
• Hyundai spins Ioniq into separate brand, announces 3 new electric cars
• This spooky thriller from the creator of 'Derry Girls' is well worth your time
• Chinese schools are scaring kids off drugs with psychedelic VR simulations
• 8 gadgets to help make distance learning easier for students and teachers
• Huge fight between teams at MLB game is definitely not socially distanced
• We've entered the breakup phase of lockdown romances

• Best portable power station deal: Save 44% on the Jackery Explorer 100 v2
• 'Father Soldier Son' is well
• Google Maps just made it way easier to rent a bike in 10 cities
• Lyft rides will come with plastic partition between you and driver
• Inside the Murky Process of Getting Games on Steam
• Google's AI starts answering Verizon support calls
• QAnon content is no longer welcome on Twitter. Cue the conspiracy theories.
• Google's AI starts answering Verizon support calls
• Amazon Spring Sale 2025: Best Apple AirPods 4 with ANC deal
• TheirTube shows how YouTube's algorithm creates conspiracy theorists

• Meta continues its submission to Trump with new advisor on its board
• The unique thrill of vintage shopping on Instagram
• 'Ghost of Tsushima' is a triumph in video game storytelling: Review
• Sisters surprise their stepdad with the best Father's Day gift ever
• 'Thunderbolts*' mid
• Everything coming to HBO Max in August 2020
• 20+ apps and websites to help you live a more sustainable life
• Tina Lawson—Beyoncé's mom—is confusing us all on Instagram
• Amazon Big Spring Sale 2025: Best air purifier deals from Dyson, Shark, LG, and more
• J.K. Rowling made a huge correction to this 'Daily Mail' headline