Christmas Day storm: Blizzard, tornado, wind gusts over 100 mph

A massive storm in the central U.S. on Christmas Day spawned a tornado in Rush County, Kansas, and caused wind gusts over 100 mph in New Mexico. A heavy thunderstorm squall line promoted a Severe Thunderstorm Watch and several warnings. To the north, heavy snow fell, causing blizzard conditions, sleet and freezing rain in the Dakotas, causing power outages. Nearly 2 feet of snow fell in Utah, Idaho, Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico. Travel troubles abounded.

AccuWeather Christmas Day 2016 Forecast

Some selected animations showing radar, warnings, local storm reports, and isobars for the storm are shown below:

Here is a list of the highest gusts by state:

• Taos Ski, NM: 105 mph

• Jamestown, CO: 97 mph

• Near Big Bear City, CA: 80 mph

• Snow Basin, Utah: 77 mph

• Oxford, NE: 75 mph

• Pine Springs, TX: 75 mph

• Colby, KS: 74 mph

• Buford, WY: 71 mph

• Bessie, OK: 68 mph

Wind gusts at 21Z on December 25, 2016

GREarth

The National Weather Service office at Pocatello, Idaho, had a heck of a White Christmas! It was snowed in, with drifts to three feet:

3 Foot Snow Drifts @ NWS Pocatello, Idaho, Christmas Day 2016

NOAA