High Wind in Southern San Luis Valley, Colorado

A strong weather system generated widespread high winds over southern Colorado. The damaging winds began during the last morning across the San Luis Valley and surrounding mountains. Wind gusts up to 75 mph occurred, with widespread tree damage and damage to fences and outbuildings. Around 2 p.m. MDT, a 69 kilovolt line between Antonito and Romeo, in the southern San Luis Valley, was taken down, and nearly 3000 people were without power for a time. The high winds also started a wildfire at the Great Sand Dunes early in the afternoon. Farther east, the most extensive damage occurred in the Wet Mountains in Custer County. Forest Road 369 was closed due to a vast blow down of mature pine and spruce trees. Hundreds of trees, some 100 feet tall and 200 years old, were brought down in a 4-mile swath. Other minor damage occurred throughout the southeast plains into the early evening. Another secondary surge of high winds occurred in the Pikes Peak Region after 3 a.m. MDT. A tree fell on a business, and caused extensive damage to the air conditioning unit on the roof.