Good Thursday morning, Boulder. We are publishing an unusual Thursday edition of BRL Today to keep you updated on the ongoing power outages.

Leading today’s edition: Thousands are still without power this morning after Xcel Energy shut off electricity ahead of Wednesday’s severe winds to reduce wildfire risk. As the storm ramped up, additional outages pushed the total to about 120,000 customers across the Front Range. As of Thursday morning, no fire ignitions had been reported in Boulder County.

If you were not among the tens of thousands in Boulder County who lost power during the planned shutoff or the wind-related outages that followed, you were not affected this time. That could change on Friday. Xcel has published a new map showing which areas could be affected by another possible shutoff. You can type in your address to see whether you’re included.

Weather forecasters say conditions expected Friday look very similar to Wednesday’s extreme wind event, with strong downslope winds, low humidity and elevated wildfire risk. Xcel has warned that another public safety power shutoff could begin as early as 5 a.m. Friday and could affect Boulder County and other Front Range communities. If outages overlap, some areas could be without power for more than three days. Boulder officials are urging residents to lean on neighbors, prepare emergency kits with battery-powered lighting, reduce fire-risk activities, and check on older adults and others who may need help.

As a reminder, Boulder’s electric grid is highly fragmented. Losing power during a shutoff does not necessarily mean your home is at wildfire risk. More often, it means your home is connected to a feeder line that runs through or near a higher-risk area elsewhere. Because feeder lines can stretch for miles, neighbors on the same block may be served by different lines. This helps explain why one home can have power while another nearby does not.

Thanks, as always, for reading,

– The BRL team

With thousands still without power in Boulder County, Xcel warns another shutoff could follow

Power restoration could take days as weather forecasters warn Friday’s forecast mirrors Wednesday’s extreme winds. Continue reading…

Dangerous winds and fire risk Friday

Another round of strong, damaging winds is expected Friday, paired with warm, very dry air that will create high to critical fire danger across the Front Range.

Wind gusts could reach 60 to 90 mph, especially in the Foothills and around Boulder, with the strongest winds expected late morning through early evening. Temperatures are expected to climb into the low 70s, and low humidity will allow any fire to spread quickly.

Residents are urged to avoid outdoor burning and activities that could create sparks, as conditions will be favorable for fast-moving wildfires. Xcel has published a map of areas that could see another shutoff.

BVSD schools closed today; CU Boulder delayed start after windstorm

All Boulder Valley School District schools will be closed Thursday, Dec. 18, district officials said.

Winds knocked out power to more than half of BVSD’s schools. Officials said electricity is not expected to be restored in time to safely operate many buildings. All before- and after-school childcare and enrichment programs are canceled, and there will be no remote learning.

District officials said extended outages have taken critical systems offline, including safety and security systems, heating and cooling, internet and phone service, restrooms and food preparation.

Missed final exams at the secondary level will be moved to the first week of school in January, including BVSD Online courses. Decisions about athletics and activities will be handled at the school level.

Meanwhile, CU Boulder will reopen Thursday with a delayed start at 10 a.m. Several campus buildings remained without power Wednesday evening, including LASP, CASA, the Space Science Building and Williams Village. University officials said some service interruptions may continue as crews work to clear debris and restore power.

City of Boulder offices, county buildings closed Thursday; council meeting canceled amid outages

City of Boulder administrative offices, Age Well centers and recreation facilities will be closed all day Thursday, Dec. 18, due to the power outages.

The Boulder City Council meeting scheduled for Thursday has been canceled because power remains out at the Penfield Tate II Municipal Building, where council chambers are located. City officials said they are required to provide at least 24 hours’ public notice for any meeting changes and could not guarantee electricity would be restored in time. Items on the agenda will be rescheduled for early 2026.

Boulder County also announced closures Thursday at its Downtown Historic Courthouse campus at 1325 Pearl St. and the North Broadway Campus at 1333 Iris Ave. due to power outages.

Reminder: Sign up for emergency alerts

After wildfires last year, Boulder Reporting Lab put together a guide explaining how Boulder County’s emergency alert systems work. The information applies to all emergencies, including severe winds, power shutoffs and flooding.

Boulder County uses three main opt-in systems: BOCO Alert for urgent, location-based warnings such as evacuation orders; the Office of Disaster Management’s text alerts for countywide updates; and the ReachWell app for multilingual alerts. The Watch Duty app, widely used for wildfire alerts, is also tracking power outages and related impacts during this week’s wind event.

Emergency officials urge residents to sign up in advance.

To receive alerts:

  • bocoalert.org
  • Text BOCOINFO to 888777.
  • Download the ReachWell app and WatchDuty app.

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