Meteorologists and emergency-management officials today marked the fifth anniversary of the August 10, 2020 Corn Belt derecho, the costliest thunderstorm event in U.S. history. The fast-moving storm system carved a path of destruction across the Midwest, unleashing hurricane-force straight-line winds and spawning several tornadoes. According to the National Weather Service’s Chicago office, the derecho produced widespread wind damage from eastern Nebraska through northern and central Indiana, toppling grain silos, crippling power infrastructure and flattening millions of acres of crops. The event’s severity prompted new research into extreme convective storms and spurred upgrades to warning protocols across the region.