Following behind the rare December severe weather outbreak, very strong winds buffeted southeast Minnesota from the late evening of December 15th into the morning of the 16th. Wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph were common with a few gusts over 70 mph. The automated weather observing equipment at the Rochester (Olmsted County) airport recorded a wind gust of 77 mph, which was the second highest wind gust on record for this site. In Rochester, the wind caused a fire from a burning transformer to spread to a garage. The high winds caused numerous power outages to occur across the area. The power outages in and around Stewartville (Olmsted County) were so extensive that some outages lasted into December 18th. The Stewartville school district canceled all classes on the 17th because of the lack of power. An elementary school in Rochester also closed on the 17th because of a power outage. A state of emergency was declared in Fillmore County.

High Wind in OLMSTED, MINNESOTA
From 15-DEC-21 22:00:00 to 16-DEC-21 05:15:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 67.00 MG
Property damage: 175.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph were common across Olmsted County during the late evening of December 15th into the early morning of the 16th. The automated weather observing equipment at the Rochester airport measured a 77 mph gust. This was the second highest gust on record for this site. A garage was heavily damaged by a fire when the winds caused the flames from a burning transformer to spread to the garage. Power outages in and around Stewartville lasted into December 18th. The lack of power and heat on December 17th prompted classes to be canceled in the Stewartville school district and at one Rochester elementary school.

High Wind in FILLMORE, MINNESOTA
From 15-DEC-21 22:30:00 to 16-DEC-21 03:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 52.00 MG
Property damage: 570.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph were common across Fillmore County during the late evening of December 15th into the early morning of the 16th. The automated weather observing equipment at the Preston airport measured a wind gust of 60 mph. A county wide state of emergency was declared.

High Wind in DODGE, MINNESOTA
From 15-DEC-21 21:45:00 to 16-DEC-21 02:45:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 58.00 MG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph were common across Dodge County during the late evening of December 15th into the early morning of the 16th. The highest recorded wind gust was 67 mph east of Kasson at a mesonet station.

High Wind in MOWER, MINNESOTA
From 15-DEC-21 21:45:00 to 16-DEC-21 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph were common across Mower County during the late evening of December 15th into the early morning of the 16th. The automated weather observing equipment at the Austin airport and a mesonet station near Dexter both measured a 58 mph wind gust.

High Wind in WABASHA, MINNESOTA
From 15-DEC-21 22:15:00 to 16-DEC-21 03:15:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 55.00 MG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph were common across Wabasha County during the late evening of December 15th into the early morning of the 16th. A mesonet station near Kellogg measured a 63 mph gust.

High Wind in WINONA, MINNESOTA
From 15-DEC-21 22:45:00 to 16-DEC-21 04:15:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph were common across Winona County during the late evening of December 15th into the early morning of the 16th. The automated weather observing equipment at the Winona airport measured a 52 mph gust.

High Wind in HOUSTON, MINNESOTA
From 15-DEC-21 23:00:00 to 16-DEC-21 04:15:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph were common across Houston County during the late evening of December 15th into the early morning of the 16th.