PG&E could shut off power to 25,000 in Northern and Central California due to high winds
Thousands of Pacific Gas & Electric Co. customers in Northern and Central California could be without power starting Monday as fast-moving winds increase the potential for fire danger.
PG&E had announced Saturday that about 44,000 customers could lose power in the region starting Monday morning, but by Sunday scaled down the size of the potential outage.
Initially, PG&E said that residents in 32 counties and seven tribes might be included in the planned outage. As of Sunday afternoon, the company said 25,000 residents in 22 counties and five tribes could be included.
With the scaled-down plans for outages, residents of Placer and El Dorado counties no longer are expected to be impacted.
In the Sacramento area, Yolo County remains among those areas potentially affected by the blackouts. According to PG&E, 515 customers in Yolo County could have their power switched off.
The reason for the possible power shutoff is incoming winds that could reach 50 mph in some areas. The National Weather Service’s Sacramento office predicts strong, gusty winds starting late Sunday night and lasting through Tuesday. PG&E’s seven-day forecast shows a potential for power shutoffs on Tuesday as well.
In Sacramento, gusts could reach up to 45 mph, while in Stockton and Chico they could hit 50. Minimum daytime humidity throughout the region is expected to remain low, potentially between 10% and 20%, according to Weather Service meteorologists.
The fast-moving winds prompted the Weather Service to issue a red flag warning, an upgrade from the fire weather watch previously issued. The red flag warning will cover most of the Sacramento Valley, indicating a very high risk of wildfire in the region. It is set to take effect at 11 p.m. Sunday and last through 7 p.m. Tuesday.
“These winds combined with low humidity and dry fuels will lead to critical fire weather conditions into Tuesday evening,” the Weather Service wrote in its red flag warning.
The company’s own meteorologists are tracking a potential for weekend rain that could help dampen dry fuels and reduce wildfire risk before the planned outages.
“Despite the potential for rain in some areas this weekend, PG&E is notifying customers of the possible (public safety power shutoff) in case rain doesn’t materialize or forecasted wind speeds still pose a wildfire risk,” PG&E officials said in a news release.
Where are outages possible?
Below is a list, provided by PG&E, of counties that might be included in the shutoffs and the number of customers in each county that might be impacted. Medical Baseline refers to customers dependent on power for medical purposes.
- Alameda: 134 customers, 10 Medical Baseline customers
- Butte: 1,342 customers, 98 Medical Baseline customers
- Colusa: 566 customers, 39 Medical Baseline customers
- Contra Costa: 597 customers, 40 Medical Baseline customers
- Fresno: 189 customers, 6 Medical Baseline customers
- Glenn: 376 customers, 22 Medical Baseline customers
- Kern: 633 customers, 34 Medical Baseline customers
- Kings: 10 customers, 0 Medical Baseline customers
- Lake: 4,008 customers, 304 Medical Baseline customers
- Merced: 14 customers, 0 Medical Baseline customers
- Monterey: 854 customers, 27 Medical Baseline customers
- Napa: 2,428 customers, 113 Medical Baseline customers
- Plumas: 309 customers, 4 Medical Baseline customers
- San Benito: 84 customers, 2 Medical Baseline customers
- San Luis Obispo: 223 customers, 4 Medical Baseline customers
- Santa Barbara: 27 customers, 2 Medical Baseline customer
- Shasta: 2,336 customers, 172 Medical Baseline customers
- Solano: 4,561 customers, 423 Medical Baseline customers
- Sonoma: 87 customers, 1 Medical Baseline customer
- Stanislaus: 30 customers, 0 Medical Baseline customers
- Tehama: 5,342 customers, 498 Medical Baseline customers
- Yolo: 515 customers, 16 Medical Baseline customers
- Cortina Rancheria: 8 customers, 1 Medical Baseline customer
- Grindstone Rancheria: 50 customers, 4 Medical Baseline customers
- Middletown Rancheria: 34 customers, 1 Medical Baseline customer
- Mooretown Rancheria: 1 customer, 0 Medical Baseline customer
- Pit River tribes: 8 customers, 0 Medical Baseline customers
This story was originally published October 10, 2021 at 11:08 AM.
