11 a.m., Dec. 2

Wind speeds are expected to kick up again this evening. And they could be strong enough to cause power outages in our area. OPPD will be ready to respond. We've got extra crews working and on-call tonight in order to troubleshoot and make repairs, as needed.

After 5 p.m., gusts could reach between 45 and 50 miles per hour. This could potentially knock tree limbs and other debris into power lines. OPPD recommends securing any of your loose holiday decorations, trampolines, porch swings and other lightweight patio furniture. These kinds of objects can interfere with and damage power lines and equipment.

If the wind blows hard enough to knock down power lines, NEVER approach them. Always assume they are LIVE, high-voltage and extremely dangerous. Stay at least 30-feet back and call 911 to report the hazard. Click here to read more tips about safety around downed power lines, including what to do if you encounter them while driving.

You can plan for potential power outages by taking some simple steps such as charging your laptops, phones and other electronic equipment ahead of time, knowing where your manual release is for automatic garage door openers and knowing the guidelines for safety with refrigerated and frozen food.

If your power does go out, please be sure and report it to us by calling 1-800-554-OPPD (6773). We don't automatically know when outages happen. We rely on our customers to tell us so that our crews can respond and get your power back up and running.

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