Pacific Gas and Electric Co. is warning that it could shut off power in parts of Northern California this weekend, including portions of Napa and Sonoma counties, as dry, gusty winds raise wildfire concerns across the region.
The utility’s latest seven-day forecast lists an “elevated” risk of public safety power shutoffs Sunday, Monday and Tuesday in parts of Colusa, Glenn, Lake, Napa, Sonoma, Tehama and Yolo counties. PG&E said it is monitoring the weather but had not announced any planned shutoffs as of Friday.
The warning does not mean customers will necessarily lose power. PG&E typically releases more detailed maps, affected addresses and estimated shutoff times closer to a possible outage, depending on how forecasts develop.
The utility uses public safety power shutoffs during periods of high wind, low humidity and dry vegetation to reduce the chance that energized electrical equipment could spark a wildfire.
The National Weather Service said elevated fire weather conditions are expected across the interior Bay Area and Central Coast from Friday through Monday, driven by strong winds and low humidity.
Winds are expected to build through the weekend, with gusts of 35 to 45 mph possible along the coast, ridgelines, higher elevations and wind-prone gaps and passes. Some of the highest ridges and immediate coastal areas could see gusts near 50 mph.
The strongest Bay Area winds are expected from late Saturday morning through early Sunday morning, peaking Saturday afternoon and evening, forecasters said. PG&E’s weather team said localized gusts could top 55 mph across elevated Bay Area terrain.
The offshore wind pattern is expected to push drier air into the region, lowering humidity and increasing fire danger. Vegetation conditions remain mixed, PG&E said, with lower-elevation grasses curing at different rates and some dead fuel moisture values expected to approach daily minimum levels Sunday.
The weather service also warned of hazardous beach and marine conditions through the weekend, with rough seas, strong winds, blowing sand and dangerous swimming and surfing conditions at west-facing beaches.
Customers can check PG&E’s outage center and sign up for address-specific alerts. PG&E says residents who rely on electricity for medical or safety needs may be eligible for extra notifications through its Medical Baseline and vulnerable customer programs.
Anthony Edwards contributed to this report.