Thousands of residents across the Texas Panhandle and New Mexico are currently without power due to high winds that have caused significant damage to power lines. Xcel Energy has reported that around 55,000 people are affected, with possible power shutoffs impacting an additional 17,000 customers as part of their wildfire mitigation strategy. As winds remain a concern, schools in the South Plains region have canceled classes, and businesses are closing for safety. Forecasters have warned of an increased wildfire danger, prompting energy companies to prepare for potential outages throughout the affected areas.