Good Monday morning, Boulder. Today’s BRL Today is sponsored by Rosetta Hall — check out Boulder’s all-day cultural hub where food, design and community come together.
Leading today’s edition: It was a confusing and difficult weekend. Some residents lost power as early as Wednesday and did not have it restored until Sunday, while others endured repeated, intermittent outages. By Sunday afternoon, about 6,500 customers across the Front Range were still without electricity. Damage assessments are ongoing.
As is often the case, the impacts fell hardest on the most vulnerable. Readers wrote to us about spoiled food they could barely afford to replace, insulin that nearly went bad, and the fear of relying on oxygen or other medical equipment when power was restored only to be shut off again. Restaurants and cafes, immensely frustrated, faced a weekend of losses during what should be one of the busiest times of the year, just before the Christmas holiday. Again and again, people pointed to the same problems: unclear communication and the lack of long-term solutions, such as burying power lines, as this problem persists. (State regulators want to hear from you through a Public Utilities Commission survey on Xcel’s shutoffs.)
Trees and powerlines were downed, and debris flew through neighborhoods. With extreme winds and critically dry conditions, de-energized powerlines likely reduced the risk of sparks that could have ignited a fast-moving wildfire.
Many are calling this a new normal. Not the wind itself, but the conditions those winds now blow into.
Today, Por Jaijongkit breaks down why these windstorms feel different. Boulder has always had big winds, but what’s changed is what they’re blowing over: dry, snow-free ground.
Also today: After 12 years, Boulder-based Sanitas Brewing Co. has closed all three of its taprooms, marking the end of an era for a local craft brewery. Its CEO and co-founder said the closure reflects a maturing beer industry but emphasized the brewery’s community impact: “We did something that mattered to Boulder.”
Plus more, Below the Fold:
- Free parking: City waives parking fees through Dec. 24.
- Open space: Most trails reopen; Heil Valley Ranch still closed.
- Sales tax: Filing deadline extended after power shutoffs.
- NIST time: Outage knocks atomic clocks off by microseconds.
- Caribou fire: Investigators say blaze was not intentional.
- NCAR protests: Boulder pushes back as funding deal stalls.
- Things to Do: Quiche sale, candlelight festival, Christmas carols, brass & beer, magic show, karaoke + more.
Thanks, as always, for reading,
– The BRL team
Rosetta Hall is Boulder’s all-day cultural hub — a third space where design, flavor and community come together. Every visit is a creative experience, from a beautifully plated lunch to a late-night DJ set. Whether you’re here for a cocktail, a celebration or just the vibe, Rosetta offers more than a meal — it offers connection.
Boulder’s fierce winds aren’t new. What’s new is the extreme fire risk that now comes with them.
Warmer, drier winters are stripping away the natural buffer that once made Boulder’s legendary windstorms less dangerous, forcing utilities and residents into a new and uneasy reality. Continue reading…
After two Xcel power shutoffs in a week, thousands in Boulder remain without power as questions mount
Extreme fire conditions prompted a second planned shutoff as 100-plus mph winds and a small downtown fire underscored the risk. Improved preparation limited impacts, but back-to-back outages have renewed scrutiny of Xcel’s approach to long-term wildfire risk. Continue reading…
Sanitas Brewing Co. closes all taprooms, marking the end of a Boulder craft beer staple
The 12-year-old brewery cites a maturing craft beer market, rising costs and shifting consumer habits as it joins a growing list of Colorado breweries shutting down this winter. ‘We did something that mattered to Boulder,’ its co-founder said. Continue reading…
Very warm Christmas week ahead
Boulder is heading into a very warm stretch leading up to Christmas, with highs well above normal for late December. The warmth already set a record last week, when temperatures hit 70 degrees on Friday, breaking the previous Dec. 19 record of 69 degrees set in 1979.
The mild pattern continues through midweek. Monday is expected to be mostly sunny with a high near 71, along with gusty west winds that are far less extreme than last week’s. Temperatures cool slightly but remain unseasonably warm on Tuesday and Wednesday, with highs in the mid- to upper 60s. Overnight lows are forecast to stay around 40 degrees, keeping conditions more fall-like than wintry as the holiday approaches.
Free city parking through Dec. 24 aims to help boost Boulder businesses after outages
Boulder is offering free parking citywide through Christmas eve as a way to support local businesses that were disrupted by last week’s intense windstorms and power outages.
The city has declared a “parking holiday” through Wednesday, Dec. 24, making parking free at all on-street meters and in BoulderPark garages. Parking will also be free on Christmas Day, which is already a city holiday.
City officials say the move is intended to make it easier for residents and visitors to shop and dine locally during the final days of the holiday season.
“Many of our businesses experienced significant disruption from the recent wind event,” City Manager Nuria Rivera-Vandermyde said in a press release. “By offering free parking, we’re hoping to make it a little easier for our community to show their support for local shops and restaurants as they recover.”
Boulder open space reopens, with caution urged
All Boulder County open space areas are open except Heil Valley Ranch, which will remain closed until further notice due to ongoing safety concerns. Officials say hundreds of hazardous trees likely remain along trails at Heil Valley Ranch. Staff will continue clearing fallen trees and removing dangerous ones before reopening.
The City of Boulder has also reopened most Open Space and Mountain Parks trails following the wind events, but officials are urging visitors to use caution. Fallen trees, loose branches and overhead hazards may still be present, and some trails or visitor amenities, including restrooms, gates and fencing, may remain closed or damaged. Visitors should check the city’s Open Space and Mountain Parks closures webpage for the latest updates and to report trail hazards through the city’s maintenance request system.
City offers sales tax filing extension for businesses hit by shutoffs
Boulder businesses affected by the power shutoffs and wind-related outages can request an extension on their December sales tax filings, city officials announced Saturday.
Monthly sales tax submissions are typically due on the 20th of each month, but impacted businesses may now file and pay by Wednesday, Dec. 24, with late payment penalties waived.
City officials said the extension is meant to give businesses breathing room.
“While the collection of this revenue is important to the city’s budget, we understand that many businesses were focused this week on preparing for shutoffs. trying to minimize losses caused by the extreme weather,” Rivera-Vandermyde said in a news release.
Businesses seeking the extension can contact Salestax@BoulderColorado.gov to request the courtesy extension and penalty waiver.
Boulder’s clocks blink: NIST time briefly drifts after power outage
The prolonged power outage at the National Institute of Standards and Technology campus in Boulder disrupted the lab’s atomic timekeeping system, causing its official time scale to drift by about 4 microseconds, according a notice to network operators and to CBS News.
The outage knocked out a crucial backup generator supporting NIST’s atomic ensemble, leaving its Boulder-based internet time servers without a reliable reference. NIST moved to disable those servers to avoid distributing inaccurate time while crews work to restore power and protect sensitive hydrogen maser clocks.
While a few microseconds is a large deviation by NIST’s standards — its clocks typically operate at the nanosecond level — the drift is unlikely to affect most users. Time signals sent over the public internet usually carry uncertainties closer to a millisecond. Still, the episode underscores how extreme weather and wildfire-prevention shutoffs can ripple into critical scientific infrastructure.
Caribou Village Fire update: No evidence fire was intentional, Tebo Properties overseeing next steps
More than two months after the Caribou Village Fire destroyed about 20 businesses in Nederland, including a key community anchor, town officials released an update outlining the status of the site and next steps.
The Nederland Fire Protection District ended emergency response activities 10 days after the fire, transferring site management to property owner Tebo Properties for security, investigations, insurance coordination and demolition planning. The company has since installed fencing and maintained on-site security.
Federal investigators with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives found no credible evidence that the fire was intentionally set. A timeline for debris removal and demolition has not yet been finalized. Testing showed volatile organic compounds within safety standards, and officials reported no concerns related to water quality.
During intense winds on Friday, Dec. 19, residents raised concerns about debris blowing from the site through town. Ash from building fires can contain toxic compounds and metals, said Joost de Gouw, a chemist with the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences.
According to the town, any air quality monitoring tied to demolition will be determined by the state health department as part of the permitting process.
Concerns about the site, including wind-blown debris, can be directed to townadmin@nederlandco.org or the Town of Nederland Planning Department.
Boulder protests NCAR dismantling as Trump move stalls Senate funding deal
Hundreds of people gathered outside the NOAA complex in South Boulder this weekend to protest the Trump administration’s intent to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research, a move scientists and Colorado officials say is politically motivated and retaliatory. Read BRL’s coverage of the move.
The move, announced by White House budget director Russell Vought, triggered swift backlash from Colorado’s congressional delegation and helped derail a bipartisan Senate funding deal days before Christmas. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper blocked the spending package unless protections for NCAR were included, with Bennet calling the administration’s action a threat to public safety and scientific integrity.
Lawmakers and researchers warn that dismantling NCAR would undermine the nation’s ability to forecast extreme weather, including the wind and fire conditions recently experienced in Boulder. CPR covered the protest here.
☀️ Explore events in Boulder and use the self-submission form on our events page to reach thousands in our community — for free! To have your event featured on our Monday to-do list, make sure to submit it to our events calendar.
Art Show, Tour Paintings: Monday, Dec. 22, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Ozo Coffee, East Pearl, 1521 Pearl St. Additional dates daily through end of year. Read More
Merry Quiche-mas at The Niche Market: Monday, Dec. 22, 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m., The Niche Market, 3701 Canfield Street. Additional date: Dec. 23, same time. Read More
Rocky Mountain Revels: The Extremely Wonderful New York Holiday Radio Show: Monday, Dec. 22, 2:00-4:00 p.m., Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut St. Read More
Elective: Learn the Shim Sham: Monday, Dec. 22, 6:45-7:45 p.m., Avalon Ballroom, 6185 Arapahoe Rd. Alternative dates weekly. Read More
Christmas Candlelight Festival: Monday, Dec. 22, 8:00-10:00 p.m., St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, 2425 Colorado Ave. Read More
Holiday Pop-Up Shop: Tuesday, Dec. 23, 11:00 a.m., Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, 1750 13th St. Read more.
Sensory “Hot Chocolate” craft: Tuesday, Dec. 23, 1:00-2:00 p.m., WOW! Children’s Museum, 110 N Harrison Ave, Lafayette. Read More
Brass and Beer: Boulder Brassaholics and Wild Provisions Beer: Tuesday, Dec. 23, 5:00-7:00 p.m., Wild Provisions Beer Project, 2209 Central Ave. Read More
Caroling in Downtown Boulder: Friday, Dec. 19, 4:30-6:00 p.m., Pearl Street Mall, 1301 Pearl Street. Additional date: Tuesday, Dec. 23, 4:30-6:00 p.m. Read More
Mile High Soul Collective: Friday, Dec. 26, 7:30 p.m., Nissi’s, 1455 Coal Creek Dr, Unit T, Lafayette. Read More
Close Up Magic: Ring in the New Year: Saturday, Dec. 27, 6:00-7:00 p.m., Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut St. Additional date Sunday, Dec. 28 same time. Read More
Saturday Night Karaoke: Saturday, Dec. 27, 8:00 p.m., Dillinger’s Bar & Grill, 1202 Centaur Village Dr, Lafayette. Additional dates weekly. Read More
Flatiron Stomp Dance Party: Saturday, Dec. 27, 8:00-11:00 p.m., Kakes Studio, 2115 Pearl St. Additional dates monthly. Read More
ReTREAT Yourself with Sarah Woods: Saturday, Dec. 27, 1:00-5:00 p.m., Soul Tree Yoga, 1280 Centaur Village Dr, Lafayette. Read More