Power outages that began Friday morning in 2 Denver metro area counties continue as wind gusts register at above 100

Planned power outages that began in two Denver metro area counties on Friday morning remain in effect as dangerous wind conditions -- with gusts reaching 100 mph in places -- are expected to continue in what is being called a prolonged wind event. Many communities in western Jefferson County and central and western Boulder County experienced the power shutoff in the morning, and customers in parts the following other counties are also seeing outages: Clear Creek, Gilpin, Larimer and Weld counties.

Xcel Energy officials said on Thursday they were evaluating the need for a second public safety power shutoff this week with wind speeds reaching hurricane or near-hurricane levels in the Denver metro area and other parts of the Front Range. Wednesday was also a day of extreme winds.

Power was out late Friday afternoon for areas including Golden, Boulder, Morrison, Nederland, Idaho Springs and Evergreen. The outages could impact Xcel customers through the weekend and into Monday. 

Friday is a First Alert Weather Day with dangerous winds, low humidity levels and record heat expected. According to CBS Colorado Chief Meteorologist Dave Aguilera, the winds will be in force through midnight on Friday and a red flag warning is in effect.  

For the first time in Colorado, the National Weather Service office in Boulder has issued an extra warning know as "A Particularly Dangerous Situation" for northwest Jefferson and western Boulder counties for possible wind gusts of 85 to 105 mph.

Friday's shutoff is the third time in Colorado state history that the utility company planned a power outage to thousands due to dangerous wind and fire conditions. The second time was Wednesday, when -- at the height of that windstorm -- 150,000 customers were without power. 

Customers without power on Friday could be without power through Saturday as Xcel crews must complete an inspection before the lines are re-energized. Xcel said they are inspecting nearly 678 miles of power lines, searching for wind damage that could spark a fire if re-energized too soon. 

"The power will not come back on the minute the wind conditions improve because we have to physically inspect, and so we do that with foot patrols, and people put their eyes on it. We also use drones. We use helicopters," said Xcel Energy President Robert Kennedy.

The Xcel Energy power outage map is available online. 

All Boulder Valley School District schools were closed on Friday, along with all Boulder city offices, the Boulder Rec Centers and some Jeffco Public Schools. Golden city buildings were also closed. The City of Boulder closed all Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks for Friday.