NEW YORK - A powerful storm system swept through the central United States on Wednesday with high winds that kicked up dust storms, fueled wildfires and knocked down power lines, leaving more than 510,000 customers without power, with no mass casualties reported as of early Thursday, according to major US news outlets.

The National Weather Service (NWS) reported a "confirmed tornado" near Rochester in southeastern Minnesota, the state's first on record in December. Several tornadoes reported in western and central Iowa were also a December first for those parts of the state.

Wednesday saw a record set, the highest number of hurricane force winds of 75 mph or higher recorded in a single day since 2004, according to the NWS, which confirmed that there had been at least 55 wind gusts of at least 75 mph across the country on Wednesday, the highest daily number since 2004.

One person was killed Wednesday evening when the truck he was driving was blown over by the storm, said the Iowa State Patrol. More than 36 million people from New Mexico to Michigan were under high-wind warnings, as gusts of up to 100 mph sent roofs flying and toppled tractor-trailers on highways from Colorado to Iowa.

Earlier Wednesday before the storms, the NWS issued a high wind warning along a swath stretching from New Mexico to upper Michigan, including Wisconsin and Illinois, with sustained winds between 25 mph and 40 mph expected. It also issued severe thunderstorm warnings for parts of Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska.

MASS OUTAGE

Hundreds of thousands of customers in the Midwest were without power Thursday morning after a powerful storm system swept through the central United States overnight, generating at least 21 reports of tornadoes, reported The New York Times.

More than 240,000 customers in Michigan lacked electricity on Thursday, and about another 150,000 in Wisconsin, according to PowerOutage.US, which aggregates data from utilities across the country. In Iowa, nearly 50,000 customers were without power.

AccuWeather Inc., an American media company that provides commercial weather forecasting services worldwide, also confirmed that hundreds of thousands were without power early Thursday morning in multiple states across the central United States after a dynamic weather complex unleashed extraordinary wind gusts, dust storms and multiple tornadoes.

"As the sun prepares to rise on the severe weather destruction in the Plains and Midwest, nearly half a million customers will be without their customary electricity on Thursday morning ... The state totals were topped by Wisconsin and Michigan, which account for over 300,000 of those outages between the two states combined," it said.

Iowa is in particular difficulty. Although the thunderstorms have moved away from the state, strong winds remain in the wake of the storms. In addition, much colder air is beginning to move into the state. Therefore, anyone without heat will need to find ways to stay warm during the night, according to AccuWeather.

As Hong Kong goes to the polls on Sunday to elect the city's 7th-term Legislative Council, residents from all walks of life voiced optimism that the new lawmakers will truly serve the interests of Hong Kong and its residents.

A retiree surnamed Wong said the election is of vital significance to Hong Kong's future since the LegCo plays an important role in the city's development.

"This election is important as the legislature is a key part of the city's political system. The voting process is simple and convenient, which took me just a few minutes. I hope the new LegCo can really serve Hong Kong and its people," Wong said.

Ng Ping-ping, a nursing care worker in Chai Wan, said she wanted to support those who love the country and the Hong Kong SAR, and can better represent the grassroots community.

"Voting is our responsibility, as well as our right. I hope Hong Kong will become prosperous and stable again, and the new lawmakers can represent the interests of the underprivileged," Ng said.

A banking professional surnamed Wong, a mother of two, said she expected to see a more constructive legislature after this election. She said hopes there would be fewer physical altercations and more constructive views in the new LegCo.

"This will enable the government and legislators to work together in improving the people's standard of living," she said.

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