NOTE: This system is no longer a derecho, but just a squall line with gusty winds and heavy rain, therefore the intro section of this diary below this paragraph is no longer valid. Severe storms may form along the tail-end of this squall line later, so the severe threat still remains. See update 9 for details.
A strong derecho has been pushing across the Midwest and Ohio Valley overnight and through the morning hours today, causing extensive damage from Nebraska (where the derecho formed), all the way through Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and now Ohio. Within the next few hours, the line of intense storms with winds possibly over 75-80 MPH will sweep through northern Ohio (north of Columbus) and impact the heavily populated areas of Cleveland and Akron.
To give you an idea as to how strong these storms are, a TV station in Iowa, WHO-TV, doesn't have a doppler radar this afternoon after the storms tore it down:
ALLEMAN, Iowa -- A strong thunderstorm passing just north of the Des Moines metro early Monday destroyed a TV radar station.WHO-TV's weather radar was blown off its tower near the town of Alleman early Monday morning.
Parts of the radar were blown into a nearby yard, including the radar dish and the dome used to protect the dish.
This is an intense line of storms with a long history of damage, capable of uprooting very tall and very old trees, doing roof and window damage to homes and businesses, as well as knocking down power lines and blowing around anything that isn't tied or bolted down. Folks who live in mobile homes should seek shelter in a sturdy building until these storms pass, because winds of this magnitude can and will easily flip and destroy this type of home over, even if they're tied down.
The newest updates will appear at the top of the information below the fold. Check back for new updates every 20-30 minutes as these move east for new updates, especially if you live in the threat zone.
As usual, keep politics, meta, pie fights and dickish comments out of here or you'll find yourself in the hidden comments. Several folks have questioned the reasoning and validity of this promise, and G2Geek gave a pretty good explanation.