Overview
- The public-safety shut-off begins at 10 a.m. Wednesday for customers in Boulder, Clear Creek, Jefferson, Larimer and Weld counties.
- The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. with widespread gusts of 45–60 mph and localized gusts near 85 mph, with the strongest winds expected between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.
- Xcel says nearly 400 workers will begin restorations as early as around 6 p.m., but crews must first visually inspect about 678 miles of lines.
- Officials warn customers to prepare for a multiday event as the utility evaluates a potential second shut-off Friday that could start as early as 6 a.m. and extend outages beyond three days in some areas.
- Red Cross and county partners will open community centers for charging, water and warmth, several school systems canceled classes including Jeffco, CU Boulder, Poudre and Clear Creek, and Xcel cautions that winds may cause additional unplanned outages outside the shut-off area.