Northern Nevada experienced hurricane-level winds Wednesday morning, leading to widespread power outages across the region. NV Energy has initiated Public Safety Outage Management (PSOM) in seven of the eight zones identified for potential power shutoffs due to the high wind forecasts.
At one point, more than 15,000 customers were without power on Wednesday. As of Wednesday afternoon, over 9,000 customers are still without power across northern Nevada. The utility company said crews began patrols as of 3 p.m. since the peak of the wind event is over. If damage is found during the patrol, restoration for customers in those areas could be delayed until Thursday, Nov. 21.
The company emphasized that safety is its highest priority. "Proactive outages are a key measure of defense to help protect the community and environment from wildfires," NV Energy said.
In response to the outages, NV Energy, in collaboration with Storey County, has opened a Customer Resource Center at the Storey County Fire Department Station 2 in Virginia Highlands. The center will offer drinks, snacks, and other resources for customers and will be open until 6 p.m. on Wednesday, November 20, and will reopen from 7 a.m. to noon on Thursday, November 21, if necessary.
Douglas County has also established a warming center at the Douglas County Community Center in Gardnerville, open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Impacted residents with needs such as finding overnight lodging can contact the Douglas County inbox at dcem@douglasnv.us for additional resources.
A wind advisory has been issued for the Reno, Sparks, and Carson areas, as well as Lake Tahoe, effective from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday. The advisory, issued by the National Weather Service in Reno, warns of south winds ranging from 20 to 35 mph, with gusts potentially reaching up to 55 mph. The advisory extends to Mono County in California and the Greater Reno-Carson City-Minden Area, as well as Mineral and Southern Lyon Counties in Nevada. A red flag warning accompanies the wind advisory, indicating heightened fire danger.
The weather service cautioned that the gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects, potentially causing tree limbs to fall and leading to a few power outages. Additionally, there is a risk of winds knocking down burned trees in the Davis Fire burn area.