El Paso and neighboring counties are under two weather advisories as high winds and dry conditions continue to pose potential fire risks on Wednesday. The National Weather Service in Pueblo issued a red flag warning for the entire Interstate 25 corridor along the Front Range of Colorado. The heav ily-trafficked roadway is forecast to have 20-30 mph winds with gusts up to 55 mph in El Paso County and relative humidity as low as 12%. High wind warnings in El Paso, Pueblo and Teller began Wednesday afternoon and will be in effect through 7 a.m. Thursday. NWS Pueblo warned residents of those counties and portions of several others of wind gusts reaching 60 to 80 mph on Wednesday evening. The strongest winds are expected in northern Colorado, some forecast for 90 mph, and over the plains later in the evening, the Weather Service said on social media early Wednesday morning. In southeast Colorado, two reports in Fremont County to the Weather Service recorded gusts upward of 90 mph, and Pikes Peak experienced a gust of 86 mph. Very strong westerly winds will continue through this evening. Westerly gusts 60 to 80 mph are likely, with higher gusts possible, mainly across the higher elevations. Strong cross-winds and areas of blowing dust possible on I-25. #COWX pic.twitter.com/v6GOb1aAGu— NWS Pueblo (@NWSPueblo) December 17, 2025 The high winds and dry conditions have led Weather Service meteorologists to say that fire behavior could become “volatile” or “extreme” quickly. FIRE RESTRICTIONS Stage I fire restrictions were implemented in unincorporated El Paso County at noon Wednesday, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Here’s what is prohibited: Open burning, with exceptions for fires and campfires within permanently constructed fire grates in developed campgrounds and picnic grounds; charcoal grills and wood-burning stoves at private residences in areas cleared (three-feet distance) of all flammable materials. The use of any fireworks without a professional display permit. Outdoor smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter, barren or cleared of all flammable materials. Welding or operating an acetylene or similar torch with an open flame is prohibited except in an area cleared of vegetation. No internal combustion engine operation without a spark-arresting device properly installed and in working order. Prescribed burns — any previously issued permits for such burns are revoked. POWER IMPACTS Over 6,500 Core Electric Cooperative customers were without service in Park, Jefferson, Clear Creek and Teller counties due to winds, the company stated in a post on social media Wednesday afternoon. Tens of thousands of Xcel Energy customers in northern Colorado had their power turned off Wednesday in a preventive move by the power company. Xcel serves much of the Denver metro area along with other parts of Colorado. The shutoffs began around 10 a.m. as winds picked up, Xcel officials said at a news conference Wednesday morning. While the winds are expected to die down around 6 p.m., some outages could last several additional hours or potentially days as crews work to inspect and assure power lines are intact. Residents in Golden reported being without power just after 10 a.m. Wednesday. Read more here. Xcel said on Tuesday that it was taking steps to proactively cut power to prevent a similar ignition of the Marshall fire in 2021, which killed two, destroyed more than 1,000 homes and left $2 billion in damages in what was the state’s most devastating in history. It was caused by both an unmoored Xcel power line and the reignition of a fire covered by dirt. PRECAUTIONS IN SOUTHERN COLORADO The Pikes Peak Regional Office of Emergency is closely monitoring weather conditions, and local public safety officials said they are prepared to respond to any impacts resulting from high winds or fires in and around El Paso County. The Colorado Department of Transportation advises drivers to slow down, keep both hands on the wheel and be ready for sudden gusts, especially when around larger vehicles. The Colorado Springs Fire Department is asking the public to refrain from all outdoor burning and not do anything that could spark a fire. “These conditions make for rapid and destructive fire activity,” the Fire Department said in a social media post. Multiple calls to CSFD reported smoke in the air by Wednesday afternoon, but it was misidentified as blowing dust. A spokesperson with Colorado Springs Utilities told The Gazette on Tuesday that it does not have a “formal public safety power shutoff policy.” The company will have crews on standby Wednesday to make any necessary repairs to its majority underground distribution system. Black Hills Energy, a utilities provider for several southern Colorado municipalities including Fountain, Monument, Woodland Park, Pueblo and Cañon City, will monitor weather conditions and pause certain work tasks until the fire risk improves, according to a news release by the company on Tuesday. DENVER-AREA CANCELLATIONS Denver’s Christkindlmarkt, the Mile High Drone Show and the Mile High Tree were canceled Wednesday night due to the high winds, Visit Denver said on its website. The Red Rocks Visitor Center and trading post are also closed and Wednesday night’s Christmas in Color has been canceled due to the power shutoff, the park said on Instagram Wednesday. The park and amphitheater remained open to the public despite the shutoff. SCHOOL DAY OFF So far, Hanover D-28 is the first school district in El Paso County to shut its doors early on Wednesday starting at noon. Farther north, several school districts have closed, including every public school in Jefferson County. DRY TIMES Conditions across southeastern Colorado have become drier in recent months, the latest U.S. Drought Monitor update shows. Costilla, Huerfano and Otero counties are the only southeastern Colorado counties with a majority of their land area in a dry or drought status. All of Huerfano County has been classified as abnormally dry or in moderate drought since the monitor’s first November forecast. Meanwhile, El Paso and Pueblo counties have less than 5% of their land areas designated as abnormally dry, the lowest criteria. ...read more read less