Strong wind gusts of up to 60 mph will continue to blow over Colorado’s Eastern Plains on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.
Meteorologists classify “damaging winds” as gusts over 50 mph, according to the National Severe Storms Laboratory. Multiple wind gusts as strong as 56 mph hit metro Denver on Tuesday night, wiping out power for thousands of residents.
Wind gusts between 60 and 70 mph will be likely near the Colorado-Kansas border Wednesday morning, NWS forecasters with the Pueblo office said. The winds will weaken across the state this afternoon.
Travel on eastbound and westbound highways in plains will be hazardous Wednesday because of the wind, especially for high-profile vehicles, forecasters said. The gusts will also cause blowing and drifting snow, reducing visibility for drivers.
Critical fire danger conditions are forecast to return Thursday to the Eastern Plains, according to NWS forecasters. Humidity levels will drop as low as 7% in southeastern Colorado, including between Trinidad and Colorado Springs, and temperatures are forecast to hit the low 60s.
Forecasters said winds Thursday will blow between 15 and 30 mph. Strong gusts may reach 45 mph in the southeast.
Fremont County, the San Luis Valley, the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, El Paso County, Huerfano County, Las Animas County and Baca County are forecast to be under a Fire Weather Watch from Thursday afternoon through Thursday evening.
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