Xcel Energy trims its forecasted power-cut footprint to about 52,000 Front Range customers amid dry, windy conditions in Colorado, down from an earlier projection in the half‑million range. A news release issued Tuesday afternoon noted the adjustment in anticipation of a wind storm on Wednesday.
Initially, the utility had warned that as many as 530,000 customers could lose electricity during a public safety power shutoff (PSPS) across Denver and surrounding counties including Adams, Jefferson, Arapahoe, Douglas, Broomfield, Boulder, Larimer and Weld.
By 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Xcel officials said a precautionary outage would likely begin around 10 a.m. Wednesday, with the bulk of impacts confined to foothill communities in Jefferson, Boulder, Clear Creek, Larimer and Weld counties.
In a statement, the company attributed the reduced scope to updated risk assessments based on the latest forecast data, improved modeling tools, and recent grid upgrades.
Public safety power shutoffs are used to lower wildfire risk during extreme fire weather, which features high winds, warm temperatures and low humidity. Xcel emphasizes that such actions aren’t taken lightly and weigh factors including weather, wind speed, humidity, fuel moisture and temperature, as well as the vulnerability of critical customers and infrastructure before deciding to proceed.
Forecasters from the National Weather Service warned of strong winds sweeping across the Front Range mountains and foothills on Wednesday morning, then advancing to the Eastern Plains. National Weather Service projections described widespread gusts of 60–75 mph, with isolated speeds up to 90 mph in wind-prone zones. Metro Denver is expected to experience its strongest winds between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Wednesday, followed by the plains.
Gust speeds were forecast to reach about 80 mph in Boulder, 75 mph in Golden, around 50 mph in Denver, 45 mph in Castle Rock, roughly 55 mph in Fort Collins and 65 mph in Colorado Springs. Sustained winds were projected to peak around 46 mph in Boulder, 44 mph in Golden, 29 mph in Denver, 25 mph in Castle Rock, 32 mph in Fort Collins and 37 mph in Colorado Springs. An elevated wind watch remained in effect for the Eastern Plains as the system moves east, with gusts possibly hitting 65 mph Wednesday night.
Colorado has enjoyed a stretch of warm, dry weather, including a recent run of near-record highs. Denver tied its December 15 daily high at 68 degrees, matching a 1921 record. The city could tie another high-temperature record on Friday if the forecasted 67-degree high holds, matching the 2023 December 19 record.
If Xcel proceeds with pre-emptive outages, it would mark the second time in Colorado. In April 2024, about 55,000 customers lost power, while around 250,000 additional customers experienced outages due to wind events, according to an Xcel spokesperson.
Power restoration will commence once winds subside and fire danger lessens. Crews will work to re-energize lines as quickly and safely as conditions permit, with restoration timelines varying from several hours to multiple days depending on the extent of the affected network and the need to inspect lines for safety before re-energization.
Even if PSPS actions aren’t employed, Xcel plans to implement enhanced powerline safety settings on Wednesday. In that scenario, lines remain energized but become more sensitive and may automatically shut off if the system detects hazards such as branches contacting lines.
Xcel customers can monitor outages in real time via the company’s outage map and report issues from their accounts. You can also text OUT to 98936 to report an outage or STAT to check status.
Forecasts indicate a slight chance of rain or snow on Wednesday, though warm conditions reduce the likelihood of meaningful accumulation.
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