Second round of power shutoffs hit 84K as fire risk escalates

• Xcel also preemptively shut down power to parts of the Front Range on Wednesday.

Threat level: Friday's forecast looks drier than Wednesday's, raising wildfire risks across the region, per 9News meteorologist Chris Bianchi.

• The National Weather Service issued a "particularly dangerous situation" fire warning, the first time such a warning has been issued in Colorado.

The latest: As of 11:45am Friday, Xcel's outage map showed 83,687 affected customers, more than 21,000 in Boulder County.

• The National Center for Atmospheric Research's Mesa lab in the Boulder foothills recorded a 104 mph gust Friday morning.

Zoom in: Boulder closed all city open space areas, and Boulder County will close all open space areas west of Colo. 93 due to fire risk.

• Boulder Valley School District and CU Boulder canceled Friday classes.
• Meanwhile, the Colorado Department of Transportation has closed Colo. 93 from 64th Avenue to Colo. 170, U.S. 36 from Boulder to Lyons and Colo. 128 from Colo. 93 to McCaslin Boulevard.

• Boulder County law enforcement agencies are asking residents to stay off the road if possible due to debris, blacked-out traffic lights, and to make it easier for emergency vehicles to operate. If you must drive, treat all intersections with down traffic lights as four-way stops.

What's next: Xcel says crews will work to restore power as quickly as weather allows, but some residents could be in the dark through the weekend.