December 2021 North American storm complex and derecho
During the afternoon and evening of Wednesday, December 15, 2021 a low pressure system brought strong, violent winds (both thunderstorm-involved and non-thunderstorm). Non-thunderstorm winds and gusts led to rapidly moving fires across Colorado and western Kansas. Dust and debris spread eastward from there. A powerful derecho (intense and very dangerous showers and thunderstorms having straight line winds and often varying levels of rain) led to several hundred damaging wind reports. That started from central Kansas northeast to east-central Wisconsin. The United States' National Weather Service got fifty-five hurricane force wind reports. The derecho was considered the most prolific (meaning productive) such event dating back to 2004, although a derecho five months later would become even more prolific.