UPDATE: The Boulder Valley School District has announced an emergency closure for schools on Friday, December 1, 2023, due to severe weather conditions, including high winds and elevated fire danger. This unprecedented decision marks the district’s second wind-related closure, allowing students to begin winter break early.
The Boulder Office of Emergency Management is urging residents to avoid roadways as gusts are forecasted to exceed 100 miles per hour. Residents should be prepared for possible power outages, with Xcel Energy warning that outages could begin as early as 5 a.m. on Friday.
Many Boulder Valley high school students are set to miss two days of finals due to these closures. The district plans to reschedule these exams to the week following winter break, which will also push back the start of the second semester. Specific schedules will be communicated to families through each high school.
On Wednesday, powerful winds caused significant disruptions, knocking out power to nearly half of the district’s schools and leading to minor damages, including shattered windows at Fairview High School. “It’s difficult to operate a school district when you have a lot of schools that are out of power,” said Randy Barber, Boulder Valley spokesman, highlighting the challenges faced by the district.
By Thursday morning, approximately 20 schools remained without power, although this number decreased to 16 by noon. Winds from the storm inflicted damage across the area, with flying debris causing windows to crack at several schools. One window was shattered at Fairview High School during finals, and a single window at Columbine Elementary School also broke. Additional reports indicated minor roof damage and downed trees across multiple campuses.
The district’s central kitchen, essential for meal preparation, lost power as well. While a generator was in place to maintain refrigeration, it could not support cooking operations. Concerns arose for staff and students whose homes also lack power, compounded by traffic lights being out and debris creating hazardous driving conditions.
“This was a significant event,” Barber stated, underscoring the unpredictability and impact of the severe weather.
As conditions continue to develop, the Boulder Valley School District urges families to stay informed through their official website at bvsd.org. The community is advised to remain vigilant and prioritize safety as the situation unfolds.
