Residents asked to secure trash bins and bring them in once emptied   

 

The City of Longmont is preparing for high winds on Wednesday that could gust up to 65 mph, according to the National Weather Service.  

 

Waste Services will send out extra trucks on Wednesday so that trash and recycling can be collected as quickly as possible. Residents with a Wednesday collection day should have their bins out by 7 a.m. and bring them in immediately once they’re collected. All residents are asked to keep the lids of their bins closed and avoid overfilling their bins, to prevent trash from being blown away by the wind.  

 

Longmont Power & Communications will not shut off power to electric customers ahead of possible high winds on Wednesday but is taking precautions to protect the safety and reliability of the city’s electric service.   

 

“We know how critical it is for our homes and businesses to have safe, reliable electricity,” said Darrell Hahn, LPC’s director of electric services. “We continually work to support that priority and as always, our crews are ready to respond as needed to maintain or restore power.”  

 

Xcel Energy, which serves a number of neighboring communities, has announced the possibility of a “Public Safety Power Shutoff” to its customers. 

 

LPC, which serves customers in Longmont and parts of Lyons, does not have a pre-emptive power shutoff program, but takes several other steps to protect the safety of the electric system and the Longmont community:  

 

• When high winds are expected, LPC crews temporarily modify the system so that it doesn’t automatically try to reconnect when it detects a fault. This helps prevent a fire when, for example, a tree branch is blown onto a power line.  
• LPC contracts with a company to trim trees around the community year-round, to lessen the possible impact of a windstorm and reduce any fire danger.  

• Each year, LPC moves some of its overhead lines underground. This has been done gradually because of the expense, but provides additional protection from severe weather.  

• In 2026, LPC will be introducing new equipment and upgrades to the Longmont electric grid to further increase fire safety. The City Council has also funded a new maintenance crew for LPC in 2026 to further enhance the reliability of Longmont’s electric service. 

 

Because high winds can limit the use of bucket trucks for clearing overhead lines, some outages may take more time to resolve than normal. LPC staff will work as quickly and safely as possible to restore any electric outages.  

 

Residents who see a downed power line should stay at least 35 feet away from it and anything touching it and call LPC at 303-651-8386 to report the damage.  

 

Depending on the effects of the wind, City staff may also open a severe weather shelter for those who need it. Further information will be posted if a shelter is opened.  

 

County residents with questions about Xcel’s possible wind-related outage can find more information at the Disaster Management page for Boulder and Boulder County (https://boulderodm.gov/) and the County’s web page on the Public Safety Power Shutoff (https://bouldercounty.gov/news/potential-xcel-power-shutoff-on-wednesday-dec-17/ ) .   

 

About Longmont, Colorado   

Longmont, Colorado, is a 29-square-mile city with more than 300 days of sunshine and a spectacular vista of the Rocky Mountains. With a population of over 100,000, Longmont sits at an elevation of 4,979 feet above sea level. With more than 1,800 acres of parks and open space, a robust craft beer scene, thriving art culture, fresh dining opportunities, and a Main Street teaming with new energy, Longmont is perfect for everyone from young families to those young at heart. Longmont is also home to several high-tech companies and a nationally recognized school district. Longmont is located in Boulder County conveniently situated 37 miles from Denver, 16 miles from Boulder and 30 miles from Rocky Mountain National Park.