Derecho Storm Carrying Hurricane-Force Winds Causes Damage in Des Moines

A rare storm carrying 100 mph winds ripped across Iowa on Monday, August 10, uprooting trees, flipping over vehicles, and sending at least one kiddie pool sailing down the street in Des Moines, reports said.

Unlike a hurricane, a derecho moves in a straight line and has no eye. The unusual windstorms pack great strength and the potential for widespread damage, the National Weather Service (NWS) said.

The storm barreled the Midwest throughout Monday afternoon, including Chicago, where a confirmed tornado touched down in the neighborhood of Rogers Park.

In central Iowa, Marshall County Homeland Security Coordinator Kim Elder said on Monday that several residents were injured by the storm.

This video shows the force of the winds in downtown Des Moines on Monday as a blue kiddie pool flies past.

The NWS said the last derecho Des Moines experienced was on July 11, 2011. Credit: @LLWilkens via Storyful