High Wind in Kansas, December 16 to 18, 2000

Name: High Wind in Kansas, December 16 to 18, 2000
Start: 2000-12-16T02:00
End: 2000-12-18T16:00
Location: Kansas

December 16 to 18, 2000 · NWS GLD · 13 events in 13 counties and zones

High Winds were common across northwest Kansas for almost 3 days in a row. A strong cold frontal passage increased wind gusts on the 17th, followed by gusts to near 75 mph on the 18th.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 13 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 2
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 13

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS GLD wrote it up.

High Winds were common across northwest Kansas for almost 3 days in a row. A strong cold frontal passage increased wind gusts on the 17th, followed by gusts to near 75 mph on the 18th. Considerable blowing dust resulted in near zero visibilities in many places. The combination of high winds and blowing dust made travel difficult, and even closed down a few highways on the afternoon of the 18th. In addition, accidents were reported and 2 people were injured during the event.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

13 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Cheyenne

When: December 16, 2:00 AM MST to December 18, 4:00 PM MST
Where: Cheyenne forecast zone
Measured: 64 kt (74 mph)
Injuries: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 39.786, -101.731 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Decatur

When: December 16, 2:00 AM MST to December 18, 4:00 PM MST
Where: Decatur forecast zone
Measured: 64 kt (74 mph)
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 39.785, -100.460 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Gove

When: December 16, 2:00 AM MST to December 18, 4:00 PM MST
Where: Gove forecast zone
Measured: 64 kt (74 mph)
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 38.916, -100.483 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Graham

When: December 16, 2:00 AM MST to December 18, 4:00 PM MST
Where: Graham forecast zone
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 39.350, -99.883 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Greeley

When: December 16, 2:00 AM MST to December 18, 4:00 PM MST
Where: Greeley forecast zone
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph)
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 38.481, -101.806 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Logan

When: December 16, 2:00 AM MST to December 18, 4:00 PM MST
Where: Logan forecast zone
Measured: 64 kt (74 mph)
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 38.917, -101.148 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Norton

When: December 16, 2:00 AM MST to December 18, 4:00 PM MST
Where: Norton forecast zone
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph)
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 39.784, -99.903 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Rawlins

When: December 16, 2:00 AM MST to December 18, 4:00 PM MST
Where: Rawlins forecast zone
Measured: 64 kt (74 mph)
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 39.785, -101.076 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Sheridan

When: December 16, 2:00 AM MST to December 18, 4:00 PM MST
Where: Sheridan forecast zone
Measured: 64 kt (74 mph)
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 39.350, -100.442 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Sherman

When: December 16, 2:00 AM MST to December 18, 4:00 PM MST
Where: Sherman forecast zone
Measured: 54 kt (62 mph)
Injuries: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 39.351, -101.720 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Thomas

When: December 16, 2:00 AM MST to December 18, 4:00 PM MST
Where: Thomas forecast zone
Measured: 64 kt (74 mph)
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 39.351, -101.055 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Wallace

When: December 16, 2:00 AM MST to December 18, 4:00 PM MST
Where: Wallace forecast zone
Measured: 64 kt (74 mph)
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 38.917, -101.764 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Wichita

When: December 16, 2:00 AM MST to December 18, 4:00 PM MST
Where: Wichita forecast zone
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph)
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 38.482, -101.347 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

High Wind: Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Kansas in 2000 Every state in 2000 This day in weather history Warnings in Kansas, December 2000

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5160704, 5160705, 5160706, 5160707, 5160708, 5160709, 5160710, 5160711, 5160712, 5160713, 5160714, 5160715, 5160716.