PG&E says Bay Area shutoffs likely with ‘near critical’ fire weather forecast

PG&E customers in multiple Northern California and Bay Area counties are likely to have their power shut off this week amid an increasing risk of wildfires. Currently, a Public Safety Power Shutoff is “likely” in parts of Napa and Sonoma counties starting Wednesday evening as a changing weather pattern is expected to bring high winds, dry weather and high temperatures to the area. 

Read more In stunning vote, California’s reddest county chooses Bay Area Democrat

PG&E also reported that some customers in Colusa, Glenn, Lake, Sutter, Tehama and Yolo counties are likely to be affected by power shutoffs. The power will most likely be off Wednesday evening into Thursday as high winds arrive in the area. Customers who may be impacted can check their address on the PG&E site.

Karleisa Rogacheski, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said winds in the hills of Napa and Sonoma are expected to reach “35 to 45 miles per hour across some of those higher elevations.” In certain ridges and passes, those gusts could reach 50 to 55 mph. High winds are also expected farther inland in Contra Costa County. 

Rogacheski explained that the weather in the Bay Area will become hotter and drier as a front moves through the area while a high-pressure system builds over the eastern Pacific Ocean. 

“We’re going to be caught in the middle,” she told SFGATE. The new weather pattern will mean a “northeasterly flow” starting Wednesday evening into Thursday “that’ll allow for a warming and drying trend over the next couple of days,” she said. 

Temperatures will start to warm dramatically in the region on Wednesday, reaching into the 90s in areas such as Santa Rosa, Walnut Creek and San Jose. On Thursday, temperatures will likely climb higher, reaching triple digits farther inland in areas including Walnut Creek and Antioch. Even San Francisco is forecast to see a warm-up as temperatures climb into the 80s. 

The weather service is warning that the high winds, combined with low humidity, mean “fuels are expected to dry rapidly” in the region. 

“Elevated to near critical fire weather conditions are still forecast and care must be taken to avoid starting a fire that could spread rapidly,” the weather service’s forecast discussion said.