close
close

first Drop

Com TW NOw News 2024

    • The weather could prompt PG&E to turn off power to some Shasta County customers
    news

    The weather could prompt PG&E to turn off power to some Shasta County customers

    Vaseline Posted on

    play

    The weather conditions could cause Pacific Gas and Electric Company to preemptively shut off power to some customers in the Northern States for several days starting Thursday, according to the company’s website.

    The possibility of temporary outages of the public safety power shutoff (PSPS) was determined “based on an analysis of forecast weather, the potential for wind-related damage, and fuel moisture content in dead and living vegetation,” according to PG&E.

    A red flag warning will be in effect from 11 p.m. Thursday through 5 p.m. Saturday due to dry, gusty winds in the forecast for parts of the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys. Northeast winds in the valley and northeastern foothills are expected to reach 45 mph, with the strongest winds expected on Friday, the National Weather Service in Sacramento said in issuing the weather warning on Tuesday.

    More: UPDATE: Shasta County is under fire-critical weather this week as Shoe Fire burns

    Power shutoffs are possible Thursday for some PG&E customers in Shasta, Tehama and 10 other counties, PG&E said. Details, including addresses, maps and closing information, are typically available two days before the closing, the company said.

    On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the number of counties that could be affected by PG&E’s preemptive power shutoffs increases to between 20 and 30 counties, including Shasta, Tehama and Butte all three days, the agency said.

    No preventive power shutoffs are expected Monday, PG&E said.

    An operational meteorologist from PG&E’s meteorology and analysis team determines when to declare an increased risk of a PSPS, which is not the same as a fire danger forecast, the agency said Tuesday afternoon.

    Note to readers: If you appreciate the work we do here at Redding Record Searchlight, please consider subscribing yourself or gifting a subscription to someone you know.

    PG&E made its projection because warm weather has helped fuel the Shoe Fire, which started Oct. 9 and is burning north of Lake Shasta. As of Tuesday afternoon, the wildfire had burned 3,761 acres and was 7% contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

    More: Redding nonprofit works to calm polarized politics in Shasta County

    Efforts to contain the fire come as crews brace for warmer weather and a fire watch issued later this week for parts of Northern California, including Shasta County.

    The shoe fire was caused by humans, but investigators still don’t know if it was arson or an accident, the US Forest Service said.

    Evacuation orders remained in effect Monday morning, as did road closures announced over the weekend.

    The National Weather Service has issued a fire warning for the area from 11 a.m. Thursday through Saturday evening, with possible wind gusts up to 40 mph.

    Michele Chandler is a senior reporter at the Redding Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She welcomes story tips at 530-338-7753 and at [email protected]. Please support our entire newsroom’s commitment to public sector journalism by subscribing today.

    Vaseline
    View all posts

    You Might Also Like