Big Storms Headed for Midwest Farms

The Midwest is set to face two powerful windstorms called derechos in the coming week, one on Wednesday and another early next week. These storms will bring strong straight‑line winds, heavy rain, and even tornadoes from Iowa to Indiana. Derechos usually start as a single thunderstorm that grows when warm, humid air meets a strong jet stream. When the storm’s cold downdrafts hit the ground, they spread out and create a gust front that pushes warm air upward, fueling the storm’s power. The most damaging derecho in recent memory struck the corn and soybean belt on August 10, 2020. It toppled thousands of acres of crops and damaged homes, barns, and roads across several states.El Niño itself does not always cause flooding, but when it combines with a warm air block over Alaska—a negative EPO—it can trigger severe weather. This pattern was seen at the end of the 1991‑93 El Niño cycle, when Midwestern farms suffered floods in June and July of 1993. Farmers may find a brief respite in July, but the next week will bring more storms and flooding to many states. Those interested in how weather affects commodity markets should keep an eye on risk‑management tools such as stop‑loss orders and position sizing.