Upper Midwest storms: Photos, videos capture hurricane-force wind gusts slamming region

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — A destructive storm system brought up to 100 mph wind gusts to the Upper Midwest on Thursday, slamming the Dakotas, Minnesota and Nebraska, along with parts of Iowa, Kansas and Wisconsin, according to The Washington Post. National Weather Service forecasters are trying to determine whether the system was a derecho, which the agency defines as “a very long-lived and damaging thunderstorm” with wind gusts over 58 mph and a damage swath of at least 240 miles.

Looks like we've met the definition of a derecho again.

For those of you unfortunate enough to have received storm damage, please let us know. pic.twitter.com/zA774AI5oE
— NWS Omaha (@NWSOmaha) May 13, 2022

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Forecasters, news outlets and other witnesses flocked to social media to share photos and videos of the storm. Here are some of those posts:

1. Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Video by @NWSSiouxFalls, Twitter

63 mph wind gust here at the office shortly after 4 pm, but many reports of 80+ mph across the region with significant structural damage and trees down!! Please let us know what happened in your area. pic.twitter.com/WlkOg1L2ED
— NWS Sioux Falls (@NWSSiouxFalls) May 13, 2022

2. Nebraska

Video by @coachgabel23, Twitter; retweeted by @NWSHastings

@NWSHastings I now know what it was like in the 30’s! Haboob rolling right through! pic.twitter.com/eaUtoBsXm9
— Grant Gabel (@coachgabel23) May 12, 2022

3. Chanhassen, Minnesota

Photo by @NWSTwinCities, Twitter

Photos taken at office 10 minutes apart.

The gust front ahead of these storms is coming in quick with heavy rain soon to follow. The largest threats are damaging winds and heavy rain.#MNwx #WIwx pic.twitter.com/JSPZ70EIB9
— NWS Twin Cities (@NWSTwinCities) May 13, 2022

4. Western Minnesota

Photo by @JonMarkuson, Twitter; retweeted by @NWSTwinCities

Heads up! High winds from the thunderstorms moving through western Minnesota are kicking up dust. Be prepared for greatly reduced visibility along with the high winds as the storms move through. #mnwx https://t.co/D4pi9OKiT6
— NWS Twin Cities (@NWSTwinCities) May 12, 2022