Blowing away! Wind knocks out power and blows down trees throughout Weld

High wind gusts have caused chaos in Weld County and surrounding northeastern Colorado counties today.

Weld County is under high wind warning. According the Weather Underground Rapid Fire’s weather station at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, the wind gusts have regularly been reaching up to nearly 50 miles per hour this afternoon. Several problems already have occurred throughout Weld County due to the high winds.

» People living in Ault, Eaton and Greeley have reported fallen power lines, power poles and dozens of fallen trees. Xcel Energy Public Information Officer Mark Stutz said at 2 p.m. there were almost 2,000 small localized outages in Weld County. Several sections of Greeley have been without power this afternoon, including 8th Avenue south of 16th Street and 11th Avenue south of 20th Street.

» On Interstate 76 near Wiggins, a semi was blown off the road.

» A power line reportedly fell on the University of Northern Colorado campus near Gunter Hall and hit a 46-year-old pedestrian. Emergency crews were unavailable to confirm the report.

» In Evans, a 50-foot pine tree that was estimated to be about 50 years old fell in a residential area.

» At 1601 Glenmere two 75-foot spruce trees fell onto a driveway. Another approximate 30-foot tree was uprooted at Glenmere Park. At 13th Street and 30th Avenue, a tree fell on a car.

According to Crystal Eggar of Fox 31 Weather, the winds are expected to slow around sunset tonight.

Elsewhere in Colorado, wind gusts of up to 70-mile per hour have been recorded in Morgan, and a blizzard warning continues to be advised for Sedwick and Logan counties.

Send us your photos!

The wind already is wreaking havoc throughout Greeley, with trees falling, power outages and tumbleweeds blocking front doors.

Share your windy weather photos! Send photos to citydesk@greeleytribune.com.