CALIFORNIA, USA — Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) said Wednesday public safety power shutoffs (PSPS) are likely for dozens of California counties amid high winds and dry conditions. See below if your area could be impacted.
PG&E said power shutoffs are likely from Thursday, Oct. 17 through Saturday, Oct. 19. PG&E previously warned about possible PSPS on Sunday but its website now shows no PSPS for Oct. 20.
Public safety power shutoffs are done in anticipation of strong winds affecting powerlines and creating a fire risk. These could happen even if it is not windy in your local area. Shutoffs could be issued if powerlines are affected connecting areas far away.
ABC10's meteorologists are calling for a Weather Impact Alert from Thursday to Saturday due to strong winds and a Fire Weather Watch, which happens due to the elevated risk of rapid fire spread. A Red Flag Warning is in effect from 11 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17 through 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, and includes areas from Redding to Modesto, according to the National Weather Service.
Winds begin to pick up Thursday evening, strongest on Friday, and taper off on Saturday.
Valley wind gusts may be 35-45 mph, delta wind gusts 40-55 mph and foothill wind gusts 35-45 mph. There may also be strong easterly gusts in parts of the Sierra, with some high-country locations potentially looking at gusts above 40 mph.
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Check if you'll be impacted by public safety power shutoffs
Here's how to check if you'll be impacted by power shutoffs.
People can check the shutoff status by address, which PG&E says is the most accurate, or they can check the outage map, which gives an approximate of the area.
PG&E Outage Map
There are community resource centers listed on the PG&E outage map for those who need resources in the event of a power shutoff. Each location includes a list of what resources are provided which could include air-conditioning/heating, device charging, restrooms and more depending on the location. Find a PG&E outage map HERE.
Oct. 17: Which counties could be impacted by public safety power shutoffs?
Some parts of the counties listed below could be impacted by a PSPS. Specific addresses, maps, and shutoff details are typically available two days before a shutoff, according to PG&E. Find the latest outage status by address or city/county HERE.
- Alameda
- Colusa
- Contra Costa
- Glenn
- Lake
- Mendocino
- Napa
- Santa Clara
- Tehama
- Yolo
Oct. 18: Public safety power shutoffs likely for these California counties
The possibility of PSPS may change depending on the forecast, this list is updated as of Oct. 16 to reflect PG&E's latest updates.
- Alameda
- Alpine
- Amador
- Butte
- Calaveras
- Colusa
- Contra Costa
- El Dorado
- Fresno
- Glenn
- Lake
- Madera
- Mariposa
- Mendocino
- Monterey
- Napa
- Nevada
- Placer
- Plumas
- San Benito
- San Luis Obispo
- Santa Barbara
- Santa Clara
- Santa Cruz
- Stanislaus
- Tehama
- Tuolumne
- Yolo
Oct. 19: Counties that could experience public safety power shutoffs
The possibility of PSPS may change depending on the forecast, this list is updated as of Oct. 16 to reflect PG&E's latest updates.
- Alameda
- Alpine
- Amador
- Butte
- Calaveras
- Colusa
- Contra Costa
- El Dorado
- Fresno
- Glenn
- Lake
- Madera
- Mariposa
- Mendocino
- Monterey
- Napa
- Nevada
- Placer
- Plumas
- San Benito
- San Luis Obispo
- Santa Barbara
- Santa Clara
- Santa Cruz
- Stanislaus
- Tehama
- Tuolumne
- Yolo
Watch more on ABC10 | Dangerous fire weather with a Red Flag Warning ahead