An expansive and intensifying storm is unleashing an array of hazardous weather to a broad swath of the lower 48 states on Wednesday, from 100 mph winds in Colorado to record warmth and an ongoing derecho moving from Kansas into Nebraska and Iowa.
Why it matters: The storm has already set all-time high temperatures for the month of December, as readings soar into the 70s all the way to the Iowa-Minnesota border. Its winds have knocked out power to more than 200,000 customers in four states, with outages climbing in Colorado and Kansas, according to poweroutage.us.
Threat level: A tornado watch is in effect for about 4 million people in portions of Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota and South Dakota until 8 pm Central Time. ...
- The Storm Prediction Center says "a few tornadoes" are likely with "a couple of intense tornadoes possible." At least one confirmed tornado has already occurred in Nebraska. Widespread damaging winds are also occurring, with gusts to about 90 possible.
- These storms have been producing straight-line-winds of 85 to 90 mph across a large area, and is likely an ongoing derecho that will cross the state of Iowa from west-to-east during the next several hours. As the storms push east, they will have a greater potential to spawn tornadoes that will be extremely fast moving.
- As the storms passed through Lincoln, Neb. between 3 and 4 pm Central Time, a wind gust to 93 mph was recorded.
- The National Weather Service is issuing tornado warnings on Wednesday where they would normally be posting winter storm or blizzard warnings at this time of year. The forecast office