Powerful winds blast way through Powell on Saturday

Posted 3/31/15

The wind picked up shortly before noon and by 12:45 p.m. gusts had hit 51 mph, according to National Weather Service records. Gusts remained at that level for five hours, with the peak high wind of 68 recorded at 2:30 p.m., according to the weather …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

Powerful winds blast way through Powell on Saturday

Posted

Powerful winds overturned objects, fueled small fires and tossed dirt in people’s eyes Saturday afternoon in Powell.

The wind picked up shortly before noon and by 12:45 p.m. gusts had hit 51 mph, according to National Weather Service records. Gusts remained at that level for five hours, with the peak high wind of 68 recorded at 2:30 p.m., according to the weather service.

The high wind remained a force through the afternoon, with a gust of 52 recorded at 5:30 p.m. and strong winds in the 30s and 40s until dark.

It tossed garbage cans, rolled objects across lawns and had people squinting as dirt smashed into their faces and windshields.

Powell volunteer firefighters responded to six fire calls during the day, four of which were for out-of-control fires, and two for downed power lines.

With the exception of the first call, “all of the calls happened while we were already on a call,” said Fire Chief Damian Dicks. “This definitely causes a strain, as we have to pull resources from one emergency to another.

“People should look at the weather report before they burn, as embers can still be hot for some time after the fire is out,” he said. “The strong winds on Saturday had been forecasted, and people should look at the reports before they burn.”

Ed and Michael Roller came home to their place on Road 7 1/2 after a weekend away and discovered a three-sided shed had been blown over during Saturday’s storm.

The shed covered a small garden tractor and a four-wheeler as well as some smaller items, Michael Roller said Monday. The shed was blown against a fence, which was damaged, she said, but the lighter objects had remained inside it.

“It must have blown straight on, because everything was sitting there just fine,” Michael said. “It was very surprising.”

The wind also bothered Powell and Pinedale high school players, as the girls and boys played a doubleheader at Powell High School. The ball constantly was blown from the field and the teams struggled to advance it against the wind.

Comments