Colorado weather: Wind gusts up to 85 mph, power outages possible

Widespread high winds are expected to batter the Front Range on Wednesday with the worst impacts to communities in the foothills and northern Colorado Strong downslope winds will hit the mountains foothills and Interstate corridor through Wednesday with widespread gusts ranging from - mph National Weather Utility forecasters stated Related Articles One Ice Castles location delayed by warm weather the other opens this weekend What drivers will face traveling into mountains near Denver on I- amid Floyd Hill bridge building Xcel may shut off power to up to customers amid dry windy weather in Colorado Denver weather Monday s high temps tie city record from Colorado s snow season is having an abnormally warm and dry start boding poorly for snowpack The high winds combined with a new string of warm weather and minimal moisture have triggered fire weather watches across Colorado Xcel Strength administrators may preemptively cut power for up to customers starting at a m in order to prevent wildfires starting by downed powerlines including in Jefferson Boulder Clear Creek Larimer and Weld counties The University of Colorado Boulder along with school districts in Clear Creek Weld and Larimer counties canceled classes on Wednesday while other districts are monitoring conditions for promising school closures This is a evolving story and will be updated Get more Colorado news by signing up for our daily Your Morning Dozen email newsletter