A very strong cold front approached the area from the northwest with a strong gradient and low level jet ahead of it out of the southwest to west prior to the frontal passage. Coupled with a sting jet in the upper levels with a tropopause fold that helped to aid in the sharp gradient towards the surface. Strong mixing from the low to mid levels with afternoon high temperatures pushing into the 70s allowed the mid morning start of the strong wind gusts to last into the late afternoon hours. The entire area had gusts over 58 mph with the strongest speeds 75 to 100 MPH along and north of the Hwy 50 corridor.
Due to the combination of intense non-thunderstorm winds of 75-100 mph, very dry air, unusually warm temperatures and low humidity, extremely critical fire weather conditions developed across parts of western and central Kansas during the day. ). Once fires started they exhibited extreme behavior, including rapid spread at more than 50 mph. This led to extreme fire weather growth and spread over the course of 6-8 hours during the late afternoon and evening. Per the Kansas Forest Service, total acreage burned across Kansas on December 15 was 163,755.9 acres, of which 67,500  acres burned in our area of responsibility. Unfortunately, these fires did result in a fatality in Ellis county.
Once the high winds of 75+ mph developed, widespread blowing dust was observed thanks to the very dry conditions over the previous month and a half.  At least one fatality was associated with a car accident in reduced visibility due to blowing dust in western Kansas.

High Wind in ELLIS, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 14:35:00 to 15-DEC-21 14:35:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 58.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Observed at the mesonet site near Yocemento.

High Wind in STAFFORD, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 14:59:00 to 15-DEC-21 14:59:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 53.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Observed at the mesonet site near Stafford.

High Wind in PRATT, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 15:10:00 to 15-DEC-21 15:10:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 52.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Observed at the mesonet site 3.9 W of Pratt.

High Wind in ELLIS, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 15:18:00 to 15-DEC-21 15:18:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 69.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Observed at the Hays airport.

High Wind in ELLIS, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 15:36:00 to 15-DEC-21 15:36:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 73.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Observed at the Hays airport.

High Wind in NESS, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 15:15:00 to 15-DEC-21 15:15:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Observed at the mesonet site near Utica.

High Wind in PRATT, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 15:15:00 to 15-DEC-21 15:15:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 57.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Observed at the Pratt airport.

High Wind in BARBER, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 15:56:00 to 15-DEC-21 15:56:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 67.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Observed at the Medicine Lodge airport.

High Wind in ELLIS, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 15:56:00 to 15-DEC-21 15:56:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 73.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Observed at the Hays airport.

Wildfire in TREGO, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 12:00:00 to 15-DEC-21 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Several large wildfires burned 5,446 acres.  Several structures were destroyed.

Wildfire in LANE, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 12:00:00 to 15-DEC-21 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Several large wildfires burned 3,552 acres.  Several structures were destroyed.

High Wind in STANTON, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 10:35:00 to 15-DEC-21 10:35:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 60.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Observed at the Johnson City airport.

High Wind in SEWARD, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 10:38:00 to 15-DEC-21 10:38:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 53.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Observed at the Liberal airport.

High Wind in FORD, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 10:52:00 to 15-DEC-21 10:52:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 53.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Observed at the Dodge City airport.

High Wind in GRANT, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 10:55:00 to 15-DEC-21 10:55:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 63.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Observed at the Ulysses airport.

High Wind in FINNEY, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 11:33:00 to 15-DEC-21 11:33:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 73.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Observed at the Garden City Airport.

High Wind in FINNEY, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 11:34:00 to 15-DEC-21 11:34:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 63.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Observed at the Dodge City Airport.

Wildfire in NESS, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 12:00:00 to 15-DEC-21 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Several large wildfires burned 7,400 acres.  Several structures were destroyed.

High Wind in STANTON, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 11:35:00 to 15-DEC-21 11:35:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 57.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Observed at the Johnson City Airport.

High Wind in BARBER, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 11:56:00 to 15-DEC-21 11:56:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 54.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Observed at the Medicine Lodge Airport.

High Wind in FORD, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 12:35:00 to 15-DEC-21 12:35:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 61.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Observed at the Dodge City airport.

High Wind in GRANT, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 12:35:00 to 15-DEC-21 12:35:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 60.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Observed at the Ulysses airport.

Wildfire in RUSH, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 12:00:00 to 15-DEC-21 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Several large wildfires burned 1,126 acres.  Several structures were destroyed.

High Wind in MORTON, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 09:46:00 to 15-DEC-21 09:46:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 52.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Observed in Elkhart.

High Wind in STANTON, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 10:55:00 to 15-DEC-21 10:55:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 63.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Observed at the Johnson City airport.

High Wind in SEWARD, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 10:56:00 to 15-DEC-21 10:56:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 53.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Observed at the Liberal airport.

High Wind in SCOTT, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 12:35:00 to 15-DEC-21 12:35:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 59.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Observed at the Scott City airport.

High Wind in FORD, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 13:11:00 to 15-DEC-21 13:11:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 73.00 MG
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Observed at the Dodge City airport.  During the late morning and early afternoon there was quite a bit of damage observed in town.  The Coldstone Creamery had the entire roof lifted and deposited across the street and into the adjacent neighborhood but what was estimated to be 100 MPH winds coming up from the valley to the southwest.  There were numerous fences blown down along with numerous tree limbs and entire trees blown over.  Additional roof damage was reported.

High Wind in STEVENS, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 10:15:00 to 15-DEC-21 10:15:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Observed in Hugoton.

High Wind in MORTON, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 10:23:00 to 15-DEC-21 10:23:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Observed at the Cimarron National Grasslands observing site.

High Wind in STANTON, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 11:05:00 to 15-DEC-21 11:05:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 64.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Observed at the Johnson airport.

High Wind in SCOTT, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 11:15:00 to 15-DEC-21 11:15:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 52.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Observed at the Scott City airport.

High Wind in ELLIS, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 11:56:00 to 15-DEC-21 11:56:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Observed at the Hays Airport.

High Wind in GRAY, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 12:05:00 to 15-DEC-21 12:05:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Observed at the Cimarron Mesonet.

High Wind in FINNEY, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 13:17:00 to 15-DEC-21 13:17:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 70.00 MG
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Observed at the Garden City airport.

High Wind in LANE, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 13:45:00 to 15-DEC-21 13:45:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 53.00 MG
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Observed at the mesonet site near Dighton.

High Wind in SCOTT, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 14:15:00 to 15-DEC-21 14:15:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 68.00 MG
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Observed at the Scott City airport.  Wind damage was done to trees, fences and some roofs.

High Wind in SEWARD, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 11:15:00 to 15-DEC-21 11:15:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Observed at the Liberal airport.

High Wind in MORTON, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 11:23:00 to 15-DEC-21 11:23:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 63.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Observed at the Cimarron National Grasslands.

High Wind in FINNEY, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 12:43:00 to 15-DEC-21 12:43:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 73.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Observed at the Garden City airport.

High Wind in COMANCHE, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 12:55:00 to 15-DEC-21 12:55:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Observed at the Comanche County airport just south of Coldwater.

High Wind in SCOTT, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 14:35:00 to 15-DEC-21 14:35:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 63.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Observed at the Scott City airport.

High Wind in KIOWA, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 14:36:00 to 15-DEC-21 14:36:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Observed at the mesonet site near Mullinville.

High Wind in FORD, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 12:09:00 to 15-DEC-21 12:09:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 59.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Observed at the Dodge City airport.

High Wind in FINNEY, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 12:14:00 to 15-DEC-21 12:14:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 64.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Observed at the Garden City airport.

High Wind in GRAY, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 13:46:00 to 15-DEC-21 13:46:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Observed at the mesonet site near Cimarron.

High Wind in GRAY, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 14:11:00 to 15-DEC-21 14:11:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 62.00 MG
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Observed at the Hays airport.

High Wind in HODGEMAN, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 14:40:00 to 15-DEC-21 14:40:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 63.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Observed at the mesonet site near Jetmore.

High Wind in ELLIS, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 14:42:00 to 15-DEC-21 14:42:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 61.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Observed at the Hays airport.

Wildfire in ELLIS, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 17:00:00 to 16-DEC-21 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

A very large and fast moving wildfire burned nearly 50,000 acres.  Numerous structures, fence posts, livestock, wildlife were killed by the fire.  Fire officials indicated that structures that normally take 90 to 120 minutes to burn completely in high wind were burning to cinders in less than 15 minutes. Tragically one person caught in the fire passed away.  He was driving to a structure for protection from high wind and ran out of fuel and was caught in the advancing fire line.

High Wind in STANTON, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 12:15:00 to 15-DEC-21 12:15:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 62.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Observed at the Johnson City airport.

High Wind in HASKELL, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 12:55:00 to 15-DEC-21 12:55:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 65.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Observed at the Sublette airport.

High Wind in MORTON, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 13:05:00 to 15-DEC-21 13:05:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 55.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Observed at the Elkhart airport.

High Wind in SEWARD, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 14:36:00 to 15-DEC-21 14:36:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 59.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Observed at the mesonet site near Hayne.

High Wind in TREGO, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 14:37:00 to 15-DEC-21 14:37:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Observed at the mesonet site 3.7 W of Ogallah.

High Wind in LANE, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 14:45:00 to 15-DEC-21 14:45:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 61.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Observed at the mesonet site near Dighton.

High Wind in FORD, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 14:55:00 to 15-DEC-21 14:55:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 61.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Observed at the Dodge City airport.

High Wind in MORTON, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 10:26:00 to 15-DEC-21 10:26:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 54.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Observed at the Elkhart airport.

High Wind in GRANT, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 10:35:00 to 15-DEC-21 10:35:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 52.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Observed at the Ulyssest airport.

High Wind in GRAY, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 13:07:00 to 15-DEC-21 13:07:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Observed at Mesonet site near Montezuma.

High Wind in HAMILTON, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 13:15:00 to 15-DEC-21 13:15:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 54.00 MG
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Observed at the Syracuse airport.

High Wind in ELLIS, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 14:42:00 to 15-DEC-21 14:42:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 64.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Observed at the mesonet site 3.7 W of Ogallah.

High Wind in FORD, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 14:55:00 to 15-DEC-21 14:55:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 61.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Observed at the Dodge City airport.

High Wind in BARBER, KANSAS
From 15-DEC-21 14:56:00 to 15-DEC-21 14:56:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Observed at the Medicine Lodge airport.