Hurricane force winds cause power outages across Central U.S.

(Des Moines, IA) -- Hurricane-force winds are causing power outages across the Central U.S.

In Wisconsin, nearly 200-thousand are without electricity because of damaging winds. Over 100-thousand power outages have been reported in Iowa, and Minnesota is issuing tornado warnings for the first time ever in the month of December.  

The National Weather Service says Wednesday set a new record for the highest number of hurricane-force wind gusts in a single day, beating the previous record set just last year.