PG&E’s possible California PSPS shutoffs this week

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU BRIAN, IT IS 602 NOW. AND THIS MORNING THOUSANDS OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIANS ARE BRACING FOR POSSIBLE POWER SHUT OFFS AS STRONG WIND IS EXPECTED AND THESE ARE THE 13 COUNTIES PG&E SAYS COULD BE IMPACTED IN THE FIRST STAGE OF SHUTOFFS. THIS IS FOR TODAY, AND IT DOES INCLUDE PARTS OF SOLANO AND YOLO COUNTIES. THEY BACKED OFF, THOUGH, WHEN IT COMES TO TOMORROW’S EXPANDED LIST, WITH MANY OF THE EASTERN FOOTHILLS COUNTIES IN OUR AREA BEING REMOVED. THOSE COUNTIES INCLUDE EL DORADO, NEVADA AND PLACER COUNTIES. WE HAVE TEAM COVERAGE THIS MORNING ON THE RED FLAG WARNING. DIRK VERDOORN IS TAKING A LOOK AT HOW STRONG THE WIND WILL BE. WE WANT TO START WITH ERIN HEFT AND FAIRFIELD, WHERE MULTIPLE AREAS AND PARKS ARE SHUT DOWN. GOOD MORNING. LIVE IN SURPASS RANCH OPEN SPACE. JUST ONE OF THE AREAS IN FAIRFIELD THAT THE CITY IS SHUTTING DOWN TO MITIGATE THAT FIRE RISK. YOU CAN JUST SEE THAT VEGETATION BEHIND ME THERE. THOSE LOOMING RISKS SWEEPING ACROSS CERTAIN AREAS OF CALIFORNIA. THIS AFTER MONTHS WITHOUT SUBSTANTIAL RAINFALL, WITH ALL FIRE FUEL, INCLUDING GRASS, BRUSH AND TREES, ALL AT THEIR DRIEST. IN ADDITION, METEOROLOGISTS EXPLAINING CHANGES TO WIND OVER THE NEXT DAY TO INCREASE THAT POSSIBLE RISK. NOW TAKE A LOOK. THESE ARE THE 13 COUNTIES PG&E SAYS COULD BE IMPACTED IN THE FIRST STAGE OF SHUTOFFS. THIS IS FOR TODAY. THAT INCLUDES PARTS OF SOLANO AND YOLO COUNTIES. AS MANY AS 24 COUNTIES COULD BE IMPACTED BY OUTAGES TOMORROW. AND THEN ON SATURDAY. BUT SOME GOOD NEWS. LIKE YOU SAID, SOME COUNTIES IN OUR AREA HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THAT LIST, INCLUDING EL DORADO, NEVADA AND PLACER COUNTIES. THE LONGEST THESE OUTAGES COULD LAST IS THROUGH SATURDAY. BACK OUT HERE LIVE. IT’S ESTIMATED THAT 20,000 PG&E CUSTOMERS COULD BE IMPACTED TODAY AND IN THE COMING DAYS, BUT THAT IS 10,000 LESS CUSTOMERS THAN THEY HAD ESTIMATED YESTERDAY. NOW, LET’S SEND IT OVER TO DIRK VERDOORN, WHO HAS A LOOK AT HOW THE WINDS COULD IMPACT ALL OF THIS FIRE RISK. DIRK. YEAH. LET’S GO AHEAD AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE TIMELINE AS FAR AS THE WINDS BUILDING UP FROM TODAY INTO TOMORROW. AND WHEN THEY’RE GOING TO PEAK AND WHEN WE’RE GOING TO SEE SOME OF THOSE STRONGEST WIND GUSTS. BUT FOR TODAY, WE’LL SEE THIS AFTERNOON THE WINDS START TO PICK UP. WE’RE LOOKING AT WINDS BETWEEN 10 TO 15MPH GUSTING UP OVER 20MPH. THAT’S JUST THE START. AS WE PROGRESS, WE’RE LOOKING AT THE WINDS GUSTING. THERE’S A PERIOD HERE FROM ABOUT MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO ABOUT 12:00 IN THE AFTERNOON TOMORROW, WHERE WE COULD SEE WIND GUSTS BETWEEN 30 TO 35MPH. AND THAT’S JUST IN THE SACRAMENTO AREA. YOU GO TO THE WEST SIDE OF THE SACRAMENTO VALLEY AGAIN IN THROUGH SOLANO COUNTY, YOLO COUNTY, COLUSA COUNTY. THOSE ARE AREAS WHERE WE COULD SEE WIND GUSTS UP OVER 40MPH. THAT’S WHEN WE’RE GOING TO SEE SOME OF THE STRONGEST WINDS IS BY FRIDAY AFTERNOON. AND THEN WE’LL SEE THE WINDS START TO TAPER OFF. A BIT, BUT STILL COMING FROM THE NORTH. AND SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WELL, THAT MEANS THAT THINGS ARE GOING TO REALLY DRY OUT. THIS IS A COMPARISON. LOOK AT THIS MORNING HUMIDITIES IN THE 90S 80S AND 90% RANGE. AS WE GO THROUGH THE AFTERNOON IT’S GOING TO DROP DOWN INTO THE TEENS. BUT IT DOESN’T STOP THERE. WE’RE NOT GOING TO SEE MUCH RECOVERY OVERNIGHT TONIGHT. IT’S STILL GOING TO BE VERY DRY TOMORROW MORNING WHEN IT SHOULD BE THE HIGHEST HUMIDITY. WE’RE ONLY GOING TO BE IN THE 30 TO 20% RANGE, AND THEN WE GET INTO TOMORROW AFTERNOON. WE’RE LOOKING AT SINGLE DIGIT HUMIDITY SO IT’S VERY DRY. THAT MAKES IT SO EASY FOR FIRES TO START WITH. THOSE NORTH WINDS BLOWING, IT MAKES IT EASIER FOR THOSE FIRES TO SPREAD. SO THAT’S THE BIG CONCERN AS FAR AS T

MAP: Where PG&E customers in California could lose power this week; utility cites fire risk

Updated: 6:45 AM PDT Oct 17, 2024

Pacific Gas & Electric Co. announced Thursday it is reducing the number of customers who could lose power this week in Northern California because of an elevated fire risk.When the utility sees conditions that could lead to wildfires, PG&E proactively shuts off power in areas where the risk is high, calling the outages Public Safety Power Shutoffs. PG&E said it removed nine counties and more than 10,000 customers from its planned shutoffs for Thursday, explaining that “a substantial wetting rainfall hit the Northern and Central Sierras Wednesday morning.”Those counties removed from the planned shutoffs include:AlpineAmadorCalaverasEl DoradoNevadaPlacerSan Luis ObispoSierraTuolumne Customers in these counties should have received cancellation notifications, according to the utility.At this point in the season, it has been months without substantial rainfall for the region. All fuel types, including grasses, brush and large trees are at their driest. When fuels are dry, they can ignite easily and burn fast and hot.Additionally, a north wind is expected to breeze through some areas Thursday night through Friday, increasing fire risk. The KCRA 3 weather team is calling Friday a weather Impact Day. This is when conditions are expected to be most severe.As of Thursday, PG&E said about 20,000 customers could still lose power as part of its planned shutoffs.The utility company noted that specific addresses, maps and shutoff details are typically available a couple of days before a planned outage.Here is a list of the potentially affected counties:Thursday, Oct. 17:Alameda, Colusa, Contra Costa, Glenn, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Santa Clara, Shasta, Solano, Sonoma, Tehama, YoloFriday, Oct. 18:Alameda, Butte, Colusa, Contra Costa, Fresno, Glenn, Lake, Madera, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Monterey, Napa, Plumas, San Benito, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Tehama, YoloSaturday, Oct. 19:Alameda, Butte, Colusa, Contra Costa, Fresno, Glenn, Lake, Madera, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Monterey, Napa, Plumas, San Benito, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Solano, Stanislaus, Tehama, Yolo The utility company previously listed Sunday as a potential day for shutoffs, but has since said shutoffs were not likely that day.PG&E customers in those counties can look up their address online to find out if their location is being monitored for a potential shutoff. See below for more information on the shutoff with this map. Here are key websites that are important for all Californians during wildfire season.Cal Fire wildfire incidents: Cal Fire tracks its wildfire incidents here. You can sign up to receive text messages for Cal Fire updates on wildfires happening near your ZIP code here.Wildfires on federal land: Federal wildfire incidents are tracked here.Preparing for power outages: Ready.gov explains how to prepare for a power outage and what to do when returning from one here. Here is how to track and report PG&E power outages.Keeping informed when you’ve lost power and cellphone service: How to find a National Weather Service radio station near you.Be prepared for road closures: Download Caltrans’ QuickMap app or check the latest QuickMap road conditions here.| MORE | A 2024 guide for how to prepare for wildfires in California | Track fire conditions across Northern California regions with our Fire Threat Index

Pacific Gas & Electric Co. announced Thursday it is reducing the number of customers who could lose power this week in Northern California because of an elevated fire risk.

When the utility sees conditions that could lead to wildfires, PG&E proactively shuts off power in areas where the risk is high, calling the outages Public Safety Power Shutoffs.

PG&E said it removed nine counties and more than 10,000 customers from its planned shutoffs for Thursday, explaining that “a substantial wetting rainfall hit the Northern and Central Sierras Wednesday morning.”

Those counties removed from the planned shutoffs include:

• Alpine
• Amador
• Calaveras
• El Dorado
• Nevada
• Placer
• San Luis Obispo
• Sierra
• Tuolumne

Customers in these counties should have received cancellation notifications, according to the utility.

At this point in the season, it has been months without substantial rainfall for the region. All fuel types, including grasses, brush and large trees are at their driest. When fuels are dry, they can ignite easily and burn fast and hot.

Additionally, a north wind is expected to breeze through some areas Thursday night through Friday, increasing fire risk.

The KCRA 3 weather team is calling Friday a weather Impact Day. This is when conditions are expected to be most severe.

As of Thursday, PG&E said about 20,000 customers could still lose power as part of its planned shutoffs.

The utility company noted that specific addresses, maps and shutoff details are typically available a couple of days before a planned outage.

Here is a list of the potentially affected counties:

Thursday, Oct. 17:

Alameda, Colusa, Contra Costa, Glenn, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Santa Clara, Shasta, Solano, Sonoma, Tehama, Yolo

Friday, Oct. 18:

Alameda, Butte, Colusa, Contra Costa, Fresno, Glenn, Lake, Madera, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Monterey, Napa, Plumas, San Benito, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Tehama, Yolo

Saturday, Oct. 19:

Alameda, Butte, Colusa, Contra Costa, Fresno, Glenn, Lake, Madera, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Monterey, Napa, Plumas, San Benito, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Solano, Stanislaus, Tehama, Yolo

The utility company previously listed Sunday as a potential day for shutoffs, but has since said shutoffs were not likely that day.

PG&E customers in those counties can look up their address online to find out if their location is being monitored for a potential shutoff.

See below for more information on the shutoff with this map.

Here are key websites that are important for all Californians during wildfire season.

| MORE | A 2024 guide for how to prepare for wildfires in California | Track fire conditions across Northern California regions with our Fire Threat Index