Will strong winds shut off power in Fort Worth this week? Here’s what to know

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Red Flag Warning

What to know about fire risks in North Texas

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North Texas is under a red flag warning. What does that mean?

Will high winds in Fort Worth affect your health? What to know

Will strong winds shut off power in Fort Worth this week? Here’s what to know

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Xcel Energy implemented a “Public Safety Power Shutoff” in Texas’ South Plains region last week as a last resort to ensure public safety as strong winds could have damaged power lines. Power was successfully restored to nearly all customers just a couple days later.

Strong winds and low relative humidity will also impact North Texas this week, with the National Weather Service Fort Worth saying there’s an elevated to critical fire threat over the next few days.

Could a similar power shutoff be on the horizon for the D-FW area to prevent wildfires? Here’s what to know.

Will power be shut off in North Texas this week?

Dallas-based Oncor does not have any planned shutoffs this week, a spokesperson told the Star-Telegram on Monday, March 17.

The company, which covers most of the D-FW area, is monitoring the high winds this week and will implement wildfire mitigation practices based on conditions across its service area.

Several North Texas counties, including Palo Pinto, Parker and Hood counties, are under a red flag warning until 10 p.m. Monday, March 17. The warning is issued when there are critical fire weather conditions are happening or about to happen, according to the NWS.

During red flag warnings, Oncor said it will disable certain automatic devices as part of its wildfire mitigation procedures.

These devices automatically attempt to restore power after detecting a power line issue. When disabled, Oncor employees patrol the area to ensure conditions are safe to restore power.

Tips to prevent wildfires

The NWS recommends the following to prevent wildfires amid the fire threat this week:

• Do not burn unnecessarily or leave a fire unattended.
• Secure tow chains to avoid dragging and causing sparks.
• Never toss lit cigarettes on the ground.
• Contact local law enforcement and the fire department if you see smoke or fire.

This story was originally published March 17, 2025 at 3:43 PM.

Brayden Garcia

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Brayden Garcia is a service journalism reporter at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He is part of a team of local journalists who answer reader questions and write about life in North Texas. Brayden mainly writes about weather and all things Taylor Sheridan-related.