The utility company’s seven-day forecast listed an elevated risk of public safety power shutoffs Wednesday through Friday in parts of Colusa, Glenn, Lake, Napa, Sonoma, Sutter, Tehama and Yolo counties. No shutoffs were forecast for Monday, Tuesday, Saturday or Sunday.
PG&E said the potential shutoffs are tied to an offshore wind event expected to develop Wednesday and continue into Thursday morning.
North-northeast winds could reach 15 to 25 mph, with gusts of 30 to 45 mph across the Sacramento Valley, Delta and nearby higher terrain. Gusts over prominent North Bay peaks, including Mount St. Helena, could reach 50 to 60 mph, according to the utility’s meteorology team.
The National Weather Service in Sacramento issued a red flag warning that will last from 11 a.m. Wednesday to 5 p.m. Thursday for parts of the Sacramento Valley, citing gusty winds and low humidity.
“The combination of gusty winds and low humidity can cause fire to rapidly grow in size and intensity,” the weather service said.
The weather could also bring unusually warm overnight conditions. Many areas at risk for shutoffs may not fall below 70 degrees Wednesday night because strong winds could prevent heat from escaping.
That could make any extended outage harder for residents without air conditioning, especially older adults, people with medical conditions and others vulnerable to heat.
PG&E said specific addresses, maps and shutoff details are typically available about two days before an event. Only portions of a county may be affected, and the utility said conditions can change quickly.
The company urged customers to check whether their address is in a potential shutoff area, sign up for alerts and prepare for possible outages.
Anthony Edwards contributed to this report.