Thousands of residents in Prince William and Stafford counties are without power as Dominion Energy and Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative (NOVEC) report widespread outages amid a high wind warning.
As of Sunday evening, Dominion Energy has reported 7,496 outages in Prince William County and 8,363 outages in Stafford County. NOVEC has also reported power disruptions, with 3,322 customers affected in Prince William County and 1,031 in Stafford County.
The National Weather Service has issued a High Wind Warning for the region, which will remain effective until 1 a.m. Monday. Forecasters expect sustained west winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts reaching 50 to 60 mph, posing risks of falling trees, downed power lines, and travel disruptions.
Authorities warn that damaging winds could bring down trees and power lines, leading to additional outages. Motorists, especially those operating high-profile vehicles, should exercise caution as travel conditions may be hazardous.
Emergency officials advise residents to stay indoors, secure outdoor objects, and avoid downed power lines. Those experiencing outages should report them to their respective power providers and prepare for potential extended disruptions.
Dominion Energy and NOVEC crews are working to restore power as quickly as possible, but strong winds may delay efforts. Residents must check their utility providers’ outage maps and updates for estimated restoration times.
