UPDATE: Black Hills Energy Cancels Power Shutoff Watch

UPDATE: Black Hills Energy has canceled it's  Public Safety Power Shutoff Watch.

The company issued the following statement at 10 a.m. on Thursday:

– Forecasted weather conditions have improved to the point that Black Hills Energy has cancelled today’s Emergency Public Safety Power Shutoff WATCH for customers in Harriman and Curt Gowdy areas.  

“Safety remains our top priority,” said Wes Ashton, vice president of South Dakota and Wyoming Utilities. “The combination of high wind speeds and low relative humidity can lead to conditions which make it unsafe to operate the electric grid. While Emergency PSPS conditions have improved, wildfire risk persists in portions of the area. Customers are encouraged to keep safety top of mind and be prepared for the possibility of unplanned power outages.” 

Officials with Black Hills Energy say they have extended a Public Safety Power Shutoff Watch in light of continuing high fire danger.

The company issued the following statement this morning (April 23):

''As dry and windy conditions continue throughout the area, Black Hills Energy continues its Public Safety Power Shutoff WATCH for customers in Harriman and Curt Gowdy areas. Black Hills Energy will monitor weather conditions throughout the morning and asks customers under the PSPS WATCH declaration to prepare for the possibility of emergency power outages should conditions change. 

Black Hills Energy will notify impacted customers with a variety of methods including text messages and emails and through local media.'

Meanwhile, the Cheyenne Office of the National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Fire Warning for today:

- Another Red Flag Warning has been issued for Thursday over portions of the High Plains. While temperatures will be cooler and humidity not as low as today, gusty west to northwest winds will keep fire danger very high across the area. Avoid any activities that could cause a spark!

The good news in terms of the fire danger is that cooler, wetter weather is expecTed in southeast Wyoming on Friday.