Potentially 'historic' high wind event has more than 86 million people on alert

A potentially "historic" high wind event is unfolding across the central United States Wednesday before a round of severe weather is forecast to impact parts of the upper Midwest Wednesday evening.

Approximately 86 million Americans are under a High Wind Warning or Wind Advisory across areas that stretch from the Desert Southwest into the Great Lakes, as forecasters say gusts of 70 and 80 mph have been reported.

Colorado is a state already seeing dangerous winds gusts from this event.

The NWS in Boulder, Colorado, said wind gusts of 55 to 70 mph were occurring across most of the region, but some locations have reported gusts between 70 and 80 mph, with localized gusts of more than 100 mph.

Lamar, Colorado, has already seen a gust of 107 mph, and the strong winds will continue throughout the day. Westcliffe isn't far behind, with a reported gust of 91 mph.

There's also a ground delay at Denver International Airport, which has led to the cancellation of nearly 100 flights and about 300 have been delayed. Travelers are urged to check their flight's status before heading to the airport.

The National Weather Service in Amarillo, Texas, said wind gusts out of the southwest could be as high as 70 mph, with some locally higher gusts possible. Forecasters say the peak wind gusts are expected into early Wednesday afternoon.

Winds there are expected to be in the 40- to 50-mph range during the morning and afternoon hours, with gusts up to 65 mph possible in northern portions of the state. Southern areas could see gusts up to 80 mph during the afternoon.

The five highest wind gusts on record in Goodland range from 78 to 96 mph, so some of those records could be in jeopardy of... (Read more)

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