BONNERS FERRY — Strong winds this week caused widespread power outages across North Idaho and western Montana, leaving more than 4,000 Northern Lights Inc. members without electricity. 

The National Weather Service in Spokane issued a high wind warning from 10 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 17. Forecasters said southwest winds of 25 to 45 mph, with gusts up to 60 mph, were expected, along with isolated gusts up to 70 mph.   

In total, more than 70,000 people across the Inland Northwest are without power as of Wednesday morning. 

According to Avista's outage map, as of 8 a.m. there are nearly 850 outages spanning both North Idaho and the Spokane, Wash. area. 

The Boundary County Sheriff’s Office warned residents that the winds had downed multiple trees and power lines and led to a number of accidents. 

As of 10:15 a.m. on Dec. 17, BCSO announced that the Boundary County Courthouse has been closed due to a power outage, the road from Milepost 534 toward Eastport was closed due to a snapped power line and the 200 block of Spruce Road, a dead end road, is currently washed out.

At 7:30 a.m. on Dec. 17, Northern Lights said in a statement that more than 11,000 Northern Lights members are currently out of service as this cold front passage continues to deliver severe, damaging winds across the area.  

“Due to the severity and widespread nature of the damage, and because impacts are still occurring while winds continue for the next several hours, members should prepare for the possibility of extended outages in some locations,” NWS officials said. 

Northern Lights stated on its Facebook page that outages were first reported at around 7 p.m. in the Bonners Ferry area on Monday, Dec. 15. 

Later that night, in the span of three hours, outages were reduced from about 4,000 customers to under 900 customers were without service. However, they warned that the second round of strong winds on Tuesday, Dec. 16 could cause additional problems. 

Northern Lights said almost all outages were the result of wind-related tree damage. 

At the peak of the outages on Dec. 15, almost 5,000 customers were without service around 8 p.m., according to the cooperative’s website. 

“A multi-day storm system will impact the Northern Lights service area Monday through Thursday, bringing periods of heavy rain and rising creeks and rivers, followed by strong winds Tuesday night into Wednesday that could cause outages,” officials said on the utility’s website. “Colder air arrives Wednesday into Thursday with the potential for freezing temperatures, snow, and icy roads. Please prepare now, use caution near floodwater, and stay well clear of any downed power lines.” 

    A photo taken by Becki Minden shows damage to a structure in the North Bench area.