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Colorado Braces for High Winds & Power Shutoffs
17 Dec
Summary
- Strong winds up to 80 mph are forecast for Colorado.
- Xcel Energy may cut power to 500,000 customers.
- Power shutoffs aim to mitigate wildfire risks.
Strong winds are predicted to sweep across Colorado starting Wednesday afternoon, potentially leading Xcel Energy to implement targeted public safety power shutoffs. This precautionary measure is designed to mitigate the heightened risk of wildfires. Up to 500,000 customers along the Front Range could be affected by these potential outages.
The National Weather Service forecasts winds ranging from 20-40 mph with gusts up to 80 mph. These conditions are highly conducive to rapid fire spread. Xcel Energy's power shutoffs could commence around noon on Wednesday and are anticipated to impact several counties, including Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Jefferson, Larimer, and Weld.
While weather conditions are expected to improve by Wednesday evening, the risk of rapid fire spread and high fire danger is forecast to continue through Friday. Residents are advised to prepare for difficult crosswinds on roads and possible power outages. Xcel Energy recommends that customers assemble an outage kit to ensure preparedness during any service disruptions.
