A significant weather system impacted the High Plains throughout the day on April 22nd and into the early morning hours of April 23rd. This weather system was not only a prolific wind producer, which led to many reports of high wind and wind damage, but also dust storm conditions and several large fires to occur.  The largest fire burned 28,000 acres in eastern Red Willow County, and continued to burn through the 29th before being extinguished. During the afternoon and early evening hours, storms began to form along a dryline across northwestern Kansas and southwestern Nebraska. These storms primarily produced large hail with a few instances of damaging thunderstorm winds. Later in the evening a line of storms or a quasi-linear convective system (QLCS), developed over eastern Colorado, spreading east across northwest Kansas and southwest Nebraska during the overnight hours. These storms produced thunderstorm wind gusts and thunderstorm wind damage.

Dust Storm in HITCHCOCK, NEBRASKA
From 22-APR-22 07:09:00 to 22-APR-22 07:15:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Social Media

Report of 1/4 mile visibility due to blowing dust 11 miles south-southwest of Trenton, NE was received via social media. Sustained winds at a nearby Mesonet site were around 40 mph at the time.

Wildfire in DUNDY, NEBRASKA
From 22-APR-22 14:00:00 to 22-APR-22 23:00:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A wildfire was reported by the emergency manager near Benkelman, NE that was caused by an unknown source. The wildfire was reported to be uncontained and caused the evacuation of Benkelman from Main Street and east of town north of the railroad. The evacuation was lifted a few hours later when the fire contained. No known damage or injuries were reported. Event times are based on report of the fire and radar imagery.

High Wind in HITCHCOCK, NEBRASKA
From 22-APR-22 13:54:00 to 23-APR-22 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 71.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

Non-thunderstorm wind gusts up to 82 mph were recorded across Hitchcock county. The highest wind gust of 82 mph was recorded by a Mesonet station located 3 miles west-northwest of Trenton, NE.

Hail in RED WILLOW, NEBRASKA
From 22-APR-22 19:25:00 to 22-APR-22 19:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: DANBURY
Magnitude: 0.88 
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Wildfire in RED WILLOW, NEBRASKA
From 22-APR-22 14:00:00 to 29-APR-22 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

A significant wildfire, which began in Decatur County, Kansas and moved into Furnas County, Nebraska, eventually crossed into Red Willow County, Nebraska. The fire primarily burned across rural eastern Red Willow County, but it did cross over Highways 6/34 in the northeastern part of the county, as well as Highway 89 in the southeastern part of the county. A multi-mission aircraft from Colorado mapped the fire and showed it to have burned an area 28 miles long across 44,024 total acres, putting the number of acres burned in Red Willow County at around 28,000, with 15,000 in Furnas County, NE and 1,000 in Decatur County, KS also burned. Resources from all over were deployed to help with this fire, including 3 Nebraska Air National Guard Blackhawk Helicopters and a Type 1 National Incident Management Team. Total personnel exceeded 100 at times. In addition, a NWS Incident Meteorologist (IMET) was deployed to this fire, the first deployment of an NWS IMET in our forecast area's history. Fighting the fire was difficult due to the rural/terrain area it was in, as well as persistent blowing dust. One fatality occurred with this fire as a retired fire chief was overcome by smoke and fire after the vehicle left the road on Friday, April 22nd during conditions of poor visibility from smoke and dust. An additional 5 injuries were also reported with fire fighters battling this blaze. Temporary evacuations were issued for Bartley and Indianola.

High Wind in DUNDY, NEBRASKA
From 22-APR-22 18:24:00 to 22-APR-22 18:24:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

A non-thunderstorm wind gust of 59 mph was recorded at a Mesonet station located 8 miles north of Benkelman, NE.

High Wind in RED WILLOW, NEBRASKA
From 22-APR-22 14:21:00 to 23-APR-22 01:29:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 58.00 MG
Reported by: ASOS

Non-thunderstorm wind gusts up to 67 mph were recorded across Red Willow county. The highest wind gust of 67 mph was recorded by the KMCK ASOS located 2 miles east of McCook, NE.

Thunderstorm Wind in RED WILLOW, NEBRASKA
From 22-APR-22 19:24:00 to 23-APR-22 02:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: (MCK)MC COOK ARPT
Magnitude: 53.00 MG
Reported by: ASOS

Reported via KMCK at the McCook Municipal Airport.