Power outages effect West Fargo, widespread areas of the Dakotas
WEST FARGO - More than 700 customers in West Fargo's Eagle Run development lost power at 7:50 a.m., and crews were still working to restore it at 9 a.m., Cass County Electric Co-op spokeswoman Carrie Joyce said. The cause of the outage wasn't known, she said.
About 115 Xcel Energy customers in south Fargo were without power at 9:46 a.m., said Mark Nisbet, the utility's prinicipal manager for North Dakota. The cause of the outage wasn't known, but it was likely high winds slapping power lines together or tree limbs hitting or falling on lines, which will continue to be an issue during the storm, he said.
Thousands of people remain without power throughout the Dakotas and traveling is virtually impossible in many areas as a winter storm continues to pound the region.
More than 2,500 people were without electricity in North Dakota on Monday morning, and about 7,800 were without power in South Dakota.
No travel was advised in all of North Dakota and Interstate 29 was closed between Grand Forks and the Canadian border.
Because of the widespread power outages, South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds is asking people to check on their neighbors.