PG&E has issued a warning about potential power shut-offs across the Bay Area and Northern California this week due to the threat of Diablo winds increasing the risk of wildfires. The strong winds are expected to start on Tuesday afternoon, peak on Wednesday, and gradually weaken by Thursday. Wind speeds could reach over 50 mph in the North Bay and East Bay, and up to 70 mph on Mount Saint Helena and Mount Diablo. The Sierra Nevada foothills may experience even higher speeds.
According to PG&E’s website, 17 counties, including six in the Bay Area (Alameda, Contra Costa, Napa, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma), as well as Santa Cruz County, could be affected by the potential shut-offs. The company advises residents to stay updated on the situation by checking their website or the Chronicle’s power outage map.
Despite some light rainfall on Friday night, the dry and gusty conditions expected this week will significantly increase the risk of wildfires in Northern California. The National Weather Service is considering issuing red flag warnings due to the potential for extreme fire danger. While temperatures are forecasted to be in the 70s during the day and 40s to mid-50s at night, the relative humidity is expected to drop to around 10%, creating critical fire conditions.
PG&E emphasized the importance of being prepared for wildfires, as they can spread rapidly even in cold weather if the conditions are windy and dry. For instance, the devastating Camp Fire in 2018, which destroyed Paradise in Butte County, began with temperatures in the upper 40s.
In other news, Anthony Edwards has recently joined The San Francisco Chronicle as a newsroom meteorologist. Previously, he was the president of the weather forecasting team at the University of Washington and also worked as an editor at the student newspaper, The Daily UW. Edwards enjoys outdoor activities such as exploring San Francisco’s parks, playing tennis, hiking, swimming, and attending baseball games when the Mariners visit the Giants and the Athletics.
