Hundreds lose power in Centre County as high wind warning continues
Power outages were reported throughout Centre County on Sunday night as a high winds hit the area.
A high wind warning took effect at 1 p.m. Sunday, and the National Weather Service State College urged residents to prepare ahead of time by securing loose objects outside, charging devices and putting batteries in flashlights. It remains in effect until 4 p.m. Monday.
Wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph were predicted, with the strongest expected Sunday afternoon into Sunday evening due to a cold front moving across central Pennsylvania, according to the NWS.
“High winds can cause hazardous travel, blow over unsecured objects and knock down trees and powerlines,” the NWS wrote on Facebook.
As of 9 p.m. Sunday, 2,600 West Penn Power customers were without power. Most of those — 1,726 — were in Patton Township, according to West Penn Power. The rest were scattered throughout the county, with outages reported in Halfmoon, Ferguson, Howard Township and Curtin townships Sunday night.
“Estimated restoration times will be available once crews assess damage,” West Penn Power’s outages map reads.
The last time the NWS issued a high wind warning for all of central Pennsylvania was Feb. 24, 2019, when wind gusts reached 49 mph in State College.
The strong winds will bring much colder air, with a high temperature of 41 degrees Fahrenheit forecast Sunday and a high of just 25 degrees on Monday.
What to do if there’s a power outage
West Penn Power customers can report outages online or text OUT to 544487. Downed power lines should be reported to 1-888-544-4877.
If the power in a home or business does go out, here are tips to stay safe until crews arrive.
- Check circuit and fuses to make sure power is out before reporting
- Check with neighbors to see if others in your area are affected
- Keep refrigerators and freezers closed
- Disconnect appliances and electronics
This story was originally published February 16, 2025 at 10:09 AM.
