Thousands of Californians may lose power in the next few days, as Pacific Gas and Electric Company and Southern California Edison announced they may shut down the power grid in certain areas as a precaution due to hazardous conditions.
As the remnants of California’s summer weather dissipate and much of the state’s foliage dries out and becomes flammable, the National Weather Service issued several Red Flag Warnings across Northern and Southern California over the next few days due to the potential fire risk.
Power lines are seen in Los Angeles, California on August 16, 2020. (Photo by CHRIS DELMAS/AFP via Getty Images)
Scott Rowe, a Senior Hydrologist with the National Weather Service, noted that the state will have ideal conditions for potential wildfires over the next few days as humidity levels remain low and winds move through the region. Specifically, Northern California is expected to see easterly winds pushing toward the Sierra Nevada foothills, while Santa Ana winds kick up in Southern California.
“It’s now the driest time of the year, especially after a long summer, and the fuels are dry…. Those ingredients combined can lead to critical fire weather conditions in the event of a spark or source of flame,” Rowe said.
In response to the National Weather Service’s Red Flag Warning, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, which serves Northern California, and Southern California Edison announced they may shut off power to areas if conditions become hazardous.
Pacific Gas and Electric Company noted that approximately 88,000 customers across 29 counties could potentially have their power shut off over the weekend, depending on the conditions.
Specifically, the National Weather Service red flag warning for several Northern California regions, like the Sierra Nevada mountains, a portion of Napa County, and portions of the Central Valley, will be in effect starting 10 p.m. on Oct. 15 and around 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 16.
However, conditions are expected to remain “near-critical” throughout the weekend, with low humidity and wind gusts around 35 miles per hour.
“Some of the most destructive fires in Northern California occur in October and November,” Rowe said.
In Southern California, the Edison electrical company noted that around 258,000 customers across seven counties, including Los Angeles and Ventura, could potentially have their power shut off over the weekend.
The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for most of Ventura and Los Angeles County starting 6 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15, set to continue until 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17. The NWS also issued a warning for Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties on Friday, Oct. 16, from 3 a.m. to 6 p.m.
However, Edison may cut power throughout Los Angeles, Ventura, Kern, Tulare, Fresno, Madera County, and Santa Barbara County, depending on weather conditions over the weekend.
“Once dangerous weather conditions have passed, crews must inspect the affected power lines from end to end. They look for damaged equipment, downed wires, branches, or other debris that could create a safety hazard,” reads a statement from Edison. “Inspections may be completed on foot, from a vehicle, by helicopter or with a drone. Any damage must be repaired before power can safely be restored.”
Residents should review Edison’s outage map to learn if their area may be affected by outages.
What should you have ready for a blackout or emergency?
Emergency equipment to face crisis and disasters. Water, food, first aid kit, tools and another items needed to survive.
During extreme weather, the National Weather Service recommends that each household prepare a “Go-bag” or “Stay-cart” with essential items in case they need to evacuate or hunker down and wait for emergency responders.
When it comes to what a person should pack in their disaster “Go-bag,” Ready.gov recommends the following items:
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Water (One gallon per person)
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NOAA Emergency Weather Radio
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Batteries and Portable Chargers
For a more in-depth list of items families should have ready for emergencies, check out USA TODAY’s emergency essentials guide.
More: Worried about a blackout? These emergency essentials can help you prepare
Noe Padilla is a Northern California Reporter for USA Today. Contact him at npadilla@usatodayco.com, follow him on X @1NoePadilla or on Bluesky @noepadilla.bsky.social. Sign up for the TODAY Californian newsletter or follow us on Facebook at TODAY Californian.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Thousands of Californians may lose power as Red Flag Warning issued
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