Over 500K Left Without Power , After Record-Breaking Winds , Hit the Central U.S. .<br />On December 15, powerful storms generated <br />record-breaking winds from the <br />Rocky Mountains to the Great Lakes. .<br />CNN reports that the high winds tore roofs off of houses, overturned vehicles, shut down highways and forced some air traffic controllers to evacuate their towers. .<br />According to the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center, at least 55 wind gusts over 75 mph were recorded across the Midwest and the Great Plains.<br />the most ever recorded in <br />a single day in the United States. .<br />In Colorado, wind gusts up to <br />100 mph or higher were also recorded. .<br />Almost 20 tornadoes were reported across Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska. .<br />The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's records show that the tornado in Minnesota was the <br />first ever documented in December in the state's history. .<br />CNN reports that record heat <br />in the north fueled the storms. .<br />I've been doing this 30 years, and we're seeing things today in the CNN Weather Center we have never seen before, Tom Sater, CNN meteorologist, via CNN.<br />According to Poweroutage.us, over <br />530,000 power outages have been <br />reported, with Wisconsin and <br />Michigan most affected. .<br />In Kansas, air traffic controllers were evacuated and parts of Interstate 70 were closed down.<br />In Kansas, air traffic controllers were evacuated and parts of Interstate 70 were closed down.<br />CNN points out that the record-breaking winds come just days after tornadoes tore through 8 states, one of which was the <br />deadliest December tornado ever recorded in the U.S.
