Public safety power shutoffs considered for some SCE customers – NBC Los Angeles

Tens of thousands of Southern California Edison customers could have their power turned off as potentially dangerous fire weather conditions develop due to heat and strong wind gusts.

The planned Public Safety Power Shutoffs allow power to be cut in areas where strong winds could damage electrical lines and spark fast-moving wildfires.

According to SCE, roughly 51,000 of the utility’s 5 million customers were being notified that they are within areas that could potentially be impacted by the power cuts. Shutoffs are being considered for more than 7,000 customers in Los Angeles County, 33,600 in San Bernardino County, 8,500 customers in Ventura County and 1,500 customers in Riverside County.

The potential shutoffs come as a red flag warning went into effect Tuesday morning for parts of Southern California. The first significant Santa Ana winds of the season are set to drive up temperatures and create gusty conditions through Wednesday.

Highs will run 10 degrees above normal in some areas.

“This is unseasonably warm,” said meteorologist Belen De Leon.

A red flag warning of critical fire conditions will be in effect from 6 a.m. Tuesday until 6 p.m. Wednesday in the western San Gabriel Mountains and southeastern Ventura County Valleys and the Santa Susana Mountains. Those areas could experience wind gusts of up to 45 mph, with humidity falling as low as 8% Tuesday and 5% Wednesday.

A heat advisory will be in effect from 10 a.m. Tuesday through 7 p.m. Wednesday for Los Angeles County beaches, the Palos Verdes Hills, the Santa Monica Mountains Recreational area, Calabasas, Agoura Hills, the San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys and the inland coastal area stretching to downtown Los Angeles, as well as the Orange County inland area.

Winds are expected to pick up significantly Tuesday morning in areas typically prone to Santa Ana gusts. A wind advisory will be in effect in the Santa Clarita Valley from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, along with the western San Gabriel Mountains and the Golden State (5) and Antelope Valley (14) Freeway corridors.