Windstorm to blame for power outage and sandstorm Tuesday

An estimated 3,270 customers were without electricity beginning shortly before 10 a.m. Wednesday after a power pole caught fire on East Fifth Street near the Nevada State Prison grounds.

Power was out for about an hour.

"We're still investigating what caused it," said Gary Aldax, spokesman for Sierra Pacific.

Some customers were switched over to another circuit as crews repaired the damaged pole. The lights that continued to flickered across the Carson area throughout the day were caused by wind gusts, Aldax said.

The National Weather Service in Reno issued a wind advisory for the greater Reno, Carson City and Minden area Wednesday afternoon. Strong winds out of the west and southwest measured between 25 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph.

The area caught the southern end of a storm that first hit in the Northwest. The winds blew dust and created low visibility along Highway 50 in Silver Springs.

Winds were expected to taper off Wednesday night. The area may see winds from 10 to 20 mph today out of the north, said Mark Deutschendorf, a meteorologist with the weather service.

Today's temperatures are expected to be in the mid 50s with lows dipping to the mid 20s. Friday expect temperatures in the 60s and highs nearing 70 on Saturday.

The Reno-Tahoe International Airport and the Carson City Municipal Airport both reported having no problems or delays in service as a result of Wednesday's winds.

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