ST. LOUIS – Strong gusts of wind led to traffic signals swaying back and forth in the St. Louis area Wednesday.  

Ameren reported that the winds caused several temporary power outages, primarily affecting St. Louis County.

Firefighters from the Cedar Hill Fire Protection District responded to multiple calls regarding downed power lines, as gusty winds toppled vulnerable tree branches and, in some instances, entire trees. 

“They’re going to go where they want to go, and inevitably they end up taking down power lines,” said Battalion Chief Bob Tucker of the Cedar Hill Fire Protection District. 

He emphasized the importance of staying away from downed power lines.

“They might be dead, then they could come alive and start whipping around, so you just want to give them as much room as possible,” Tucker said. He further noted that even first responders treat downed lines as live until Ameren can respond.

Ameren also highlighted a potential benefit of Wednesday’s strong winds: they happened when many trees were still bare. When trees are filled with leaves, those leaves can act as sails, making it more likely for vulnerable branches to snap. 

For ongoing updates regarding power outages throughout the St. Louis area, visit Ameren.

The windy conditions also posed a unique challenge for golfers. 

“It’s freezing and windy,” said golfer Quinn Adamec. “Balls are flying everywhere.”

Adamec was among several golfers enjoying the heated tee area at the First Tee Driving Range in Oakville. 

“It’s very cold and very windy, but we still have our die-hard golfers out,” said owner Paula Muck. “We do have heaters up for this time of the year, which really helps. If the sun were out, it would be even better because we face south.”

Golfers expressed their desire for a change in weather. 

“When we had that 60-degree day, with 67 last week, my place was packed; it was hard to find a spot in the parking lot,” Muck said. “This has been a rough winter, and everyone is ready to get out, hit some balls, and have some fun.”