As many as 500,000 customers along the Front Range may lose power this week as strong winds and critical wildfire conditions hit the state, Xcel Energy warned Monday.

Strong winds will blow across Colorado starting Wednesday afternoon and may prompt a “targeted public safety power shutoff” to reduce wildfire risks beginning around noon, according to an Xcel alert.

Fire danger will be elevated because of warm, dry weather over the last several weeks, including a recent 10-day stretch of near-record temperatures on the Front Range, the utility said.