KOOTENAI COUNTY, Idaho — Power is coming back for Inland Power customers in Green Bluff amid high winds Wednesday afternoon.
A total of 190 customers were without power as of 12:10 p.m. Most of the customers impacted live in Spokane County.
A High Wind Warning is in effect for much of North Idaho and northeast Washington from 4 a.m. to midnight on Wednesday. A Wind Advisory is in effect for Spokane and surrounding areas.
Peak wind gusts are expected between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Wednesday.
Less than 1% of Inland Power customers in the area are without power, according to the company’s outage map.
“High winds are expected to pick up as the day continues,” Inland Power wrote on Twitter. “We will keep you informed if outages occur. Our crews will work as quickly and safely as possible.”
Avista customers without power near Sandpoint
More than 380 Avista customers are without power near Sandpoint as the result of a dozen outages, according to the company's outage map. There was no estimated time of restoration listed at last check.
Two Kootenai Electric outages are affecting 53 customers near Hayden and Coeur d'Alene, as of 11 a.m. No expected restoration time is listed.
Sustained winds are expected to reach speeds of 25-35 mph on Wednesday, with some spots hitting 40 mph. Gusts of up to 60 mph are expected in the region.
Winds of that strength will likely lead to tree damage and power outages.
Winds speeds in Sandpoint had already reached 30 mph by 5 a.m. on Wednesday.
Avista’s director of operations said on Tuesday that the company was preparing for outages in North Idaho and the Spokane area. The most significant outages are expected in the Sandpoint area.
People should be prepared for outages with blankets, flashlights and batteries. Avista cautioned people against running generators indoors and said generators should not be connected to the grid so linemen can stay safe.
Anyone who sees a downed power line is asked to call Avista or report it on Avista's website or mobile app.