A well-known Colorado power provider, Xcel Energy, is starting a power outage to reduce the risk of wildfires in the face of strong winds that can gust up to 100 mph. Over 55,000 people may be impacted by the power outage.
Beginning at 3:00 PM local time, Boulder County and a small portion of Broomfield, Douglas, Gilpin, Jefferson, and Larimer counties will be affected by the outage. The power outage is anticipated to last until at least Sunday, April 7, at noon, according to Xcel Energy. In a statement, the company stated that they had “decided to proactively de-energize lines.”
“Because crews need to physically inspect the power lines, outages are likely to last longer than that. The goal of temporarily turning off the power is to keep our electric system from serving as a spark for a wildfire, according to Xcel Energy.
SATURDAY: Critical fire weather conditions could mean very rapid spread of new or existing wildfires for parts of CO, KS, NM, OK, and TX. Many everyday things can spark wildfires. Keep ignition sources far away from dry vegetation, wood, and other fuel. https://t.co/93Bhknjbnw pic.twitter.com/Tq2kJ1XSYV
— National Weather Service (@NWS) April 5, 2024
Winds are predicted to pick up in the afternoon and evening, with the strongest gusts occurring between 6:00 PM on Saturday and 6:00 AM on Sunday, according to the Boulder, Colorado, National Weather Service.
According to US maps, extremely critical fire weather is predicted for parts of southeast Colorado, the Oklahoma Panhandle, and southwest Kansas.
The business advised “customers who use medical equipment that depends on electrical service to take steps to prepare for extended outages.”
Xcel Energy said it will cut power to about 55,000 customers in Colorado due to high winds that could topple its power lines and spark wildfires https://t.co/KXOv0xp0cs
— Bloomberg (@business) April 6, 2024
High wind safety advice was shared on X by the National Weather Service.
- Remain mindful of your surroundings, and if at all possible, stay inside.
- Tree branches could break easily.
- During the strongest gusts, keep an eye out for flying debris.
- Avoid areas where power lines have fallen.
- If at all possible, avoid parking under trees.
- Steer clear of travel.
Over 2.9 million people reside in critical zones, and over 77,000 people live in areas with a high fire risk. The National Weather Service advises residents in high wind areas to “avoid any activity that may produce a spark” and, if at all feasible, stay inside. Forecasts state that the winds will result in dust storms, broken tree limbs, and power outages.
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