BOULDER, Colo. (KKTV) – Several Colorado highways are closed due to high winds reaching up to 80 MPH in some locations.

According to the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), the closures currently in place include:

• CO 93 both directions from 64th Ave (Arvada) to CO 170.
• CO 72, both directions from CO 7 to Ward Road.
• US 36, both directions from Boulder to Lyons.
• CO 128, both directions from CO 93 to McCaslin Boulevard.

Transportation officials said the winds may also cause traffic signal outages.

If traffic lights are experiencing a power outage, CDOT said drivers must treat it as a four-way stop:

• Come to a complete stop at the stop line or before entering the intersection. 
• Vehicles proceed one at a time, in the order they arrived. 
• If two vehicles arrive at the same time, the driver on the right goes first. 
• Always yield to pedestrians and cyclists already in the crosswalk. 
• Make eye contact when possible and proceed cautiously – do not assume others will stop.

Drivers are also encouraged to reduce speeds, keep both hands firmly on the steering wheel, and be alert for debris, downed signs and sudden gusts. High-profile vehicles, such as trucks, vans and vehicles towing trailers, are encouraged to avoid travel when closures or restrictions are in place.

CDOT also reminds commercial drivers to ensure tire chains are properly secured and not dragging, which can create sparks and increase wildfire risk during dry, windy conditions.

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DENVER (KDVR) — Strong wind gusts at the speed of a Category 3 hurricane swept through two Colorado counties on Wednesday.

Strong winds blew through the state on Wednesday, leaving tens of thousands without power, causing safety road closures and recording wind gusts reaching over 100 mph. In some areas, winds were even higher, with Summit and Grand counties seeing 124 mph wind gusts.

At 9 p.m. on Wednesday, one weather station on top of Breckenridge Peak 6 picked up a wind gust of 124 mph in Summit County. Then, at 9:52 p.m., another weather station at Parsenn Bowl Summit in Grand County picked up a wind gust of 124 mph, according to National Weather Service records.

These two wind gusts weren’t only the strongest gusts on Wednesday, they were so strong that they were comparable to the strength of a devastating hurricane.

The Pinpoint Weather team said it was the strength of a high-end Category 3 hurricane. These winds also compare to a high-end EF2 tornado, which could damage one or two family residences, according to NWS.

These weren’t the only areas that saw high winds. Several counties across Colorado saw winds higher than 100 mph throughout Wednesday.

The Pinpoint Weather team expects the wind to continue into Friday with continued fire danger. The winds are expected to slow down throughout the weekend.