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Archive photos: June 1998 derecho hits the Iowa City area
20 years ago, on June 29, 1998, a type of severe storm known as a derecho swept across Iowa, blowing trains off their tracks, destroying homes and buildings, flattening corn and damaging thousands of trees.
The storm caused more than $150 million in damages across Iowa, including extensive damages in Des Moines and near and south of Iowa City, according to a blog post from the National Weather Service.
A derecho ('deh-REY-cho') is a widespread, long-lived wind storm that can produce destruction similar to a tornado along a straight-line path, according to the Storm Prediction Center website from the NOAA.
One unofficial instrument in Washington measured wind gusts up to 123 miles per hour, according to the NWS.
More than 100 people were injured by flying debris, but none were killed, according to the NWS.
Gazette photographers captured the storm's aftermath. Keep reading for more photos and details of the 1998 storm, as captured in The Gazette at the time.
Joe Fink, a CRANDIC railroad employee from Oelwein, listens to his radio as train cars of Iowa Interstate Railroad continue to hang from the bridge and submerged in the river Tuesday afternoon, June 30. (DAN LUEDERT/Photo Intern)
Residents look at the damage done to the Old Capitol area in Iowa City. Gusts of wind Monday afternoon caused severe damage in the area. (DAN LUEDERT/Photo Intern)
Traincars hang from a bridge in Iowa City, Monday, June 29, after strong gusts of wind blew through the town. (DAN LUEDERT/Photo Intern)
John Hegewald (right) hands his grandmother a plate while helping clean up his aunt's home (Tammy Bass) on Monday, June 29, 1998, in Oxford after the storm hit Oxford. Both people live in Oxford. (BUZZ ORR/Staff Photographer)
Train cars hang off of a bridge in the southern part of Iowa City Monday, June 29, after winds blew the train off the tracks. (DAN LUEDERT/Photo Intern)
Drew Colony of Cedar Rapids walks off the rood of Bob Kasper's barn on Tuesday, June 30, 1998, in Oxford. Colony was helping move roof as a result of Monday's storm. (BUZZ ORR/Staff Photographer)
Among the damaged farmsteads in Monday's storm was this barn between Sharon Center and Hills. Kevin McKoy, supervising Farm Bureau claims in southeast Iowa, says 800 to 900 claims were called into the Iowa City office last week. Insurance assessors and Farm Service Agency inspectors were working through the week to determine damages to buildings and crops. (MARLENE LUCAS)
Ellenor Sprinkle, 704 5th St. 2a, Coralville, sits in her kitchen Tuesday, June 30, as workers clear the tree that fell through her home from Monday's winds. (DAN LUEDERT/Photo Intern)
A damaged tree sits next to the home Ed Kasper. The Kaspers moved into the house three months ago. June 30, 1998, in Oxford. (BUZZ ORR/Staff Photographer)
Two people walk along the road in the storm damaged Oxford on Tuesday, June 30, 1998. Monday's storms caused extensive damaged throughout the city. (BUZZ ORR/Staff Photographer)
storm damage near Hills. Broken tree branches and flooded cornfields are common in Iowa. This flooded field and damaged corn is northwest of Hills. (MARLENE LUCAS)
A tractor is pulled from Bob Kasper's barn on Tuesday, June 30, 1998, in Oxford. Monday's storm caved in the roof. (BUZZ ORR/Staff Photographer)
Grain bins at Hills Grain & Feed that hat tumbled across the street and bumped against the Hair Quarters building during Monday's storm were back where they started by Tuesday. Several bins were crumpled at Gringer Feed & Grain in Iowa City, which rents the Hills bins. The damage reduced Gringer's storage capacity by 450,000 bushels. (MARLENE LUCAS)
F.W. Kent Park worker Mark Evens moves branches away from a tree that was destroyed by Monday's storm on Wednesday, July 1, 1998, near Oxford. The storm destroyed thousands of trees at the park. (BUZZ ORR/Staff Photographer)
Monday's strong winds toppled the steeple of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Hills, Iowa. (DAN LUEDERT/Photo Intern)
Lanny Martin stopped, after finishing his classes at Kirkwood Community College in Iowa City, to see the workers progress on the trainThursday, July 2, that was derailed by Monday's heavy winds. (DAN LUEDERT/Photo Intern)
University of Iowa workers and students clean up downed trees and branches on the Pentacrest Thursday, July 2, 1998. (DAN LUEDERT/Photo Intern)
Workers use a150-ton crane to lift one of two rail cars that had been dangling from a bridge over the Iowa River since Monday's storm. Iowa Interstate Railroad Presiden Douglas Christy said the other car suspended on the bridge will be removed today, and the search continues for a trailer that fell into the water and may have drifted as far as two miles downstream. (DAN LUEDERT/Photo Intern)
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