Overview
- Xcel has activated enhanced powerline safety settings that stop automatic reclosing after a fault, so power stays off until crews visually inspect lines.
- Officials say a Public Safety Power Shutoff could begin around 2 p.m. Saturday, with Xcel cautioning that winds may persist through the weekend despite some improvement later Saturday.
- Colorado Public Radio reports up to 18,000 customers in Boulder and Jefferson counties could be affected, and residents are urged to prepare for outages that could last several days depending on damage.
- Hurricane‑force gusts have already toppled trees and disrupted service, leaving 27,000–30,000 customers without power Thursday and about 6,000 still out Friday, with gusts of 60–80 mph and multiple road and school closures.
- Boulder authorities plan trail and open space closures on Saturday for safety, and local businesses and residents are bracing as communities push longer‑term fixes like burying lines, with the city noting about 60% already underground and projects underway through 2027.