COLORADO, USA — Strong winds impacted the Front Range on Friday, leading to closed roads, power outages, wildfires and downed trees.
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A grass fire was reported along the hogback south of Interstate 70 west of Denver on Friday afternoon. The fire was last reported to be about 44 acres and initially grew quickly due to strong winds. West Metro Fire Rescue said it was 30% contained Saturday afternoon.
In Broomfield, Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport recorded a hurricane-force wind gust of 75 mph around noon. Two semi-trucks were also blown over due to strong winds on north Interstate 25 near the Wyoming state line, according to the Colorado State Patrol.
Colorado 93 was closed between Golden and Boulder due to the winds and blown-over semis along the west side of Rocky Flats, according to CSP, which also said it had reports of a semi blown over on Indiana near 96th Avenue.
Multiple downed trees temporarily closed lanes of Wadsworth Boulevard in Wheat Ridge just before 12:30 p.m.
As of 1 p.m. on Friday, top wind gusts in the metro area were 79 mph in Rocky Flats, and widespread 50 mph gusts or higher were recorded in downtown Denver.
More than 25,000 Xcel customers were without power as of 5 p.m. Friday. At 4:30 p.m. Saturday, about 4,800 customers were without power in the Denver area. At 7:40 p.m., that number was down to about 240 customers.
Red Rocks closed the amphitheater to visitors during the day on Friday, due to the high winds. The Dabin concert scheduled for Friday night was also postponed. The music venue said a new date has not been determined at this point, and that AEG will send out more information to those who have tickets to the show.
The winds, along with dry conditions, mean Red Flag Warnings are in effect for the southern front range and southeast Colorado.
A video posted by Mountain View Fire Rescue shows the conditions on North 63rd Street just north of Niwot Road just after noon.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment issued an air quality health advisory for blowing dust that expired at 8 p.m. Friday.
Keep up with the latest road conditions here:
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