Over 60K Coloradans Lost Power: Xcel

ACROSS COLORADO — 60,534 Coloradans found themselves without power Wednesday afternoon, Xcel Energy reports, a result of 688 outages across the state. By Thursday morning, the number had dropped to 400 outages affecting 7,048 customers.

While this is substantial, it pales in comparison to the current record of 290,000 Coloradans who lost power during a March 2016 blizzard.

The outages are caused by winds of up to 95 miles an hour that have caused numerous downed wires, fallen trees, closures, and delays across the state. Much of the state is under Red Flag Warning, High Wind Warning, and Hazardous Weather Outlook, among other National Weather Service warnings.

The outages are mostly centered in the Denver metro area, where 600 outages are affecting 54,447 people as of 3:30. Smaller outages north of the metro area are affecting 2,500 customers around Loveland and Fort Collins, and in the southern part of the state near the Rio Grande National Forest. No outages are currently reported in Pueblo or Colorado Springs.

To report an outage, call 1-800-895-1999, text OUT to 98936, or text STAT for outage coverage. Click here to see Xcel’s online map.

In light of winds of up to 80 miles an hour, the National Weather Service recommends avoiding travel, no burning activity, move any unsecured items indoors, and avoid parking near or under trees.