About 10,000 customers in West Maui lost power Monday night after Hawaiian Electric implemented a Public Safety Power Shutoff because of high winds.

The company said customers should prepare for an extended outage overnight into Tuesday, as Hawaiian Electric is also monitoring the wildfire risk for potential shutoffs in other parts of Maui, including Upcountry.

An outage that began around 7 p.m. affected portions of West Maui. Wind speeds increased to more than 80 mph in some areas while the humidity dropped rapidly, prompting Hawaiian Electric to proactively shut off power in West Maui around 8:30 p.m.

Hawaiian Electric said power will remain off until weather conditions improve and crews can inspect lines and make any necessary repairs. Customers are being asked to prepare for extended outages, which can last hours or days.

The company has also initiated a Public Safety Power Shutoff watch for the South Kohala area of Hawaii Island and other high-risk areas of Maui, including Upcountry.

A shutoff watch means that if weather conditions intensify within the next 12 to 24 hours, Hawaiian Electric may proactively shut off power in communities with elevated wildfire risk.

The criteria for determining a shutoff include wind gusts of 45 mph or higher and relative humidity below 45%.

The company analyzes data from weather stations and cameras near infrastructure in high-risk areas where fires could spread quickly. Wind gusts can be stronger at higher elevations than in residential areas.

For more information, customers can call Hawaiian Electric’s Public Safety Power Shutoff hotline at 1-844-483-8666 or go to hawaiianelectric.com/PSPS.