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Severe windstorms sweep across the Midwest

USA TODAY
A semi and two trailers lay on their side in a field at McDonald truck wash and chrome shop in Scranton on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021, after a band of severe weather produced strong wind gusts and reports of tornadoes across much of the state Wednesday night. The storm caused property damage and downed power lines, leaving many Iowans without electricity.
A semi and two trailers lay on their side in a field at McDonald truck wash and chrome shop in Scranton on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021, after a band of severe weather produced strong wind gusts and reports of tornadoes across much of the state Wednesday night. The storm caused property damage and downed power lines, leaving many Iowans without electricity.
Bryon Houlgrave, Des Moines Register
Fires continue to burn in a pasture near Natoma which was part of a massive wildfire that stretched across Ellis, Russell, Osborne and Rooks counties Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021. The fire was stoked by a storm that passed through the area Wednesday with high sustained winds and gusts up to 90 mph.
Fires continue to burn in a pasture near Natoma which was part of a massive wildfire that stretched across Ellis, Russell, Osborne and Rooks counties Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021. The fire was stoked by a storm that passed through the area Wednesday with high sustained winds and gusts up to 90 mph.
Charlie Riedel, AP
Debris from nearby farm fields swirls around on Highway 400 between Mullinville, Kan., and Dodge City on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021.
Debris from nearby farm fields swirls around on Highway 400 between Mullinville, Kan., and Dodge City on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021.
Travis Heying, The Wichita Eagle Via AP
A tornado approaches Interstate 80 near Atlantic, Iowa, as a semi rolls eastward on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021. A band of strong storms swept across much of the plains states on Wednesday, producing powerful wind gusts and tornadoes.
A tornado approaches Interstate 80 near Atlantic, Iowa, as a semi rolls eastward on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021. A band of strong storms swept across much of the plains states on Wednesday, producing powerful wind gusts and tornadoes.
Bryon Houlgrave/The Register
A construction worker pushes dirt with a bulldozer as water meant for dampening dirt flies in the air around him from high winds that hit the front range on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021, in Superior, Colo. High winds whipping across the Colorado Rockies knocked out power, closed roads and highways and forced the cancellation or delay of hundreds of flights.
A construction worker pushes dirt with a bulldozer as water meant for dampening dirt flies in the air around him from high winds that hit the front range on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021, in Superior, Colo. High winds whipping across the Colorado Rockies knocked out power, closed roads and highways and forced the cancellation or delay of hundreds of flights.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post Via AP
An overturned truck pushed high power lines over along Highway 93 as high winds created havoc along the front range on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021, in Superior, Colo. High winds whipping across the Colorado Rockies have knocked out power, closed roads and highways and forced the cancellation or delay of hundreds of flights. The National Weather Service warned of wind gusts between 60 and 80 mph along Colorado’s Front Range throughout Wednesday and gusts of up to 100 mph in the foothills.
An overturned truck pushed high power lines over along Highway 93 as high winds created havoc along the front range on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021, in Superior, Colo. High winds whipping across the Colorado Rockies have knocked out power, closed roads and highways and forced the cancellation or delay of hundreds of flights. The National Weather Service warned of wind gusts between 60 and 80 mph along Colorado’s Front Range throughout Wednesday and gusts of up to 100 mph in the foothills.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post Via AP
Dorcie Childs walks under two evergreen trees in his Colorado Springs, Colo., front yard that were blown over in a wind storm Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021. High winds whipped across the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday, knocking out power, closing roads and highways and forcing the cancellation or delay of hundreds of flights.
Dorcie Childs walks under two evergreen trees in his Colorado Springs, Colo., front yard that were blown over in a wind storm Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021. High winds whipped across the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday, knocking out power, closing roads and highways and forcing the cancellation or delay of hundreds of flights.
Christian Murdock, The Gazette Via AP
Paramedics tend to an injured person on the onramp of I-25 north of N. Academy Blvd. on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021, in Colorado Springs, Colo. Over a dozen semi trucks were blown over by high winds in the Pikes Peak region on I-25.
Paramedics tend to an injured person on the onramp of I-25 north of N. Academy Blvd. on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021, in Colorado Springs, Colo. Over a dozen semi trucks were blown over by high winds in the Pikes Peak region on I-25.
Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette Via AP
A home outside of Bayard, Iowa, is damaged following a band of intense weather crossed the state on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021. The storm produced strong wind gusts and tornadoes.
A home outside of Bayard, Iowa, is damaged following a band of intense weather crossed the state on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021. The storm produced strong wind gusts and tornadoes.
Bryon Houlgrave/The Register
Members of the Colorado Springs Utilities Catamount crew remove a fallen tree that crushed a car driving westbound on Unitah Street in Colorado Springs, Colo., as wind gusts reached more than 100 mph in the Pikes Peak Region Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021. The driver and passenger were transported to a local hospital.
Members of the Colorado Springs Utilities Catamount crew remove a fallen tree that crushed a car driving westbound on Unitah Street in Colorado Springs, Colo., as wind gusts reached more than 100 mph in the Pikes Peak Region Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021. The driver and passenger were transported to a local hospital.
Christian Murdock, The Gazette Via AP
The dust from heavy winds obscures the sun in Hodgeman County in Jetmore, Kan., Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021.
The dust from heavy winds obscures the sun in Hodgeman County in Jetmore, Kan., Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021.
Travis Heying, The Wichita Eagle Via AP
An Iowa State Patrol trooper works the scene of an overturned semi along the westbound shoulder of Interstate 80 near Anita, Iowa, on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021, after a band of intense weather crossed through the area.
An Iowa State Patrol trooper works the scene of an overturned semi along the westbound shoulder of Interstate 80 near Anita, Iowa, on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021, after a band of intense weather crossed through the area.
Bryon Houlgrave/The Register
The Hodgeman County Undersheriff confirmed these grain bins were blown away from a nearby farm into cornfield across Hwy 283 on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021, in Jetmore, Kan.
The Hodgeman County Undersheriff confirmed these grain bins were blown away from a nearby farm into cornfield across Hwy 283 on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021, in Jetmore, Kan.
Travis Heying, The Wichita Eagle Via AP
Two semi trucks, one southbound and one northbound, were part of the truck carnage on I-25 Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021, in Colorado Springs, Colo. These trucks were north of Briargate Pkwy. Over a dozen semi trucks were blown over by high winds in the Pikes Peak region on I-25.
Two semi trucks, one southbound and one northbound, were part of the truck carnage on I-25 Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021, in Colorado Springs, Colo. These trucks were north of Briargate Pkwy. Over a dozen semi trucks were blown over by high winds in the Pikes Peak region on I-25.
Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette Via AP
High winds toppled a semi-truck on I-25 in the southbound lane on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021, in Colorado Springs, Colo. There were over a dozen semi-trucks that were toppled on I-25 in the Pikes Peak region. A National Weather Service site in Lamar, Colo., reported a 107 mph gust.
High winds toppled a semi-truck on I-25 in the southbound lane on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021, in Colorado Springs, Colo. There were over a dozen semi-trucks that were toppled on I-25 in the Pikes Peak region. A National Weather Service site in Lamar, Colo., reported a 107 mph gust.
Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette Via AP
High winds toppled a semi-truck on I-25 in the northbound lane just past Garden of the Gods Rd. on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021, in Colorado Springs, Colo. A National Weather Service site in Lamar, Colo., reported a 107 mph gust.
High winds toppled a semi-truck on I-25 in the northbound lane just past Garden of the Gods Rd. on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021, in Colorado Springs, Colo. A National Weather Service site in Lamar, Colo., reported a 107 mph gust.
Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette Via AP
A boy struggles to hang onto his jacket in heavy winds as he walks past an observation tower at the Liberty Memorial Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021, in Kansas City, Mo. The area had heavy winds most of the day with gusts around 60 miles per hour as a front moved through.
A boy struggles to hang onto his jacket in heavy winds as he walks past an observation tower at the Liberty Memorial Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021, in Kansas City, Mo. The area had heavy winds most of the day with gusts around 60 miles per hour as a front moved through.
Charlie Riedel, AP
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