Pikes Peak Regional Office of Emergency Management monitoring weather conditions, National Weather Service issues High Wind Warning

The Pikes Peak Regional Office of Emergency Management is closely monitoring weather conditions, and local officials stand ready to respond to impacts resulting from high winds in and around El Paso County and the City of Colorado Springs.

The National Weather Service issued a High Wind Warning from 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 17 through 3 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 18. Additionally, a Red Flag Warning is in effect today from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m.

The Interstate 25 corridor could see winds of 20-30 miles per hour, with gusts up to 60 mph. Higher elevations in El Paso County and surrounding areas could see increased wind speeds of 30-40 mph, with gusts as high as 80 mph.

The Red Flag Warning is in effect due to low humidity levels and the very strong winds. People should avoid all activities that could start a fire, including tossing cigarette butts, outdoor burning, campfires and grilling, off-road travel, the outdoor use of machinery and outdoor welding activities. With low relative humidity levels, fires could catch and spread quickly due to the strong winds. Colorado Springs Fire Department officials remind people that anyone caught in the act of illegal fire activity or malicious activity that could start a large fire are subject to fines, charges, and potentially jail time.

Residents could see downed trees and power lines, power outages, and difficult travel conditions, especially for high-profile vehicles. People should avoid being outdoors in forested areas or around trees or branches. If possible, remain in lower levels of your home during the windstorm, avoid windows, and use extreme caution when driving.

Sign up for Peak Alerts

The best way for people to stay informed of emergency situations is to sign up for Peak Alerts at peakalerts.org. You can receive official emergency alerts via phone call, email, text message or app notification. You can also register multiple locations (home, work, school) and receive alerts for those places no matter where you are.

Avoid travel, if possible

If possible, stay indoors and avoid travel. If you must travel, always maintain a firm grip on the steering wheel. Be prepared for sudden shifts in wind speed or direction and be vigilant of flying debris.

Traffic intersections may be without power. Motorists should treat all darkened intersections as a four-way stop.

Watch for and obey any travel restrictions and stay tuned to local news or NOAA Weather Radiofor updates.

Residents should only call 911 for a life-threatening emergency.

Downed Trees

Damaging winds will/may blow down trees.

Within the City limits: For NON-emergency assistance with downed trees in roadways through the night, City residents can call City Forestry at (719) 385-5942 or use GoCOS!, the City's mobile app, which can be found at ColoradoSprings.gov/gocos. To report a downed street tree, a tree planted within the public right of way, visit ColoradoSprings.gov/tree.

Outside of City limits: For assistance with trees or debris that are blocking the roadway, residents outside of the city limits can call 719-520-6460 or use the EPC Citizen Connect App. Residents can also report by visiting citizenconnect.elpasoco.com/.

Please note:Downed trees on private property are the responsibility of the owner. Contact home insurance or a private tree removal company. Neither the City nor County respond to calls about trees on private property. If there is a threat to life safety or a power line is involved, please call 9-1-1.

Power lines or power outages

Residents should prepare for power outages by making sure any devices are fully charged. Make sure phones, laptops, and backup batteries are fully charged. Keep flashlights and extra batteries in easy-to-find places. If you rely on medical equipment, have a backup power source or talk to your provider about options. Have a battery-powered or hand-crank radio to get updates if your internet goes down.

Residents should be on the lookout for fallen power lines or trees that have come into contact with a power line. If you see this, stay away from the line and/or tree and immediately contact your utility provider.

• Colorado Springs Utilities: Visit csu.orgfor power outage safety tips.
  • Colorado Springs Utilities customers can report and track electric outages online on its outage map. To report a utilities-related emergency, a downed electric line or a tree in an electric line, call 719-448-4800. Stay far away from downed power lines and always assume they're live.
• Mountain View Electric: mvea.coop/outage-center/outage-reporting/or 800-388-9881
• City of Fountain Utilities: 719-322-2010
• Black Hills Energy: blackhillsenergy.com/outagesor 888-890-5554

Colorado Springs Airport flight information

For information about flight status for the Colorado Springs Airport visit flycos.comor contact the individual airline.