PG&E says it will likely activate Public Safety Power Shutoffs beginning Saturday across a wide swath of Northern California, and several counties close to Sacramento are on the list. Saturday’s potential shutoffs cover El Dorado, Lassen, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra and Tehama counties. Sunday adds Colusa, Glenn and Yolo, while Monday’s possible shutoffs are limited to Colusa, Glenn and Tehama.
The driver is fire weather. KCRA meteorologist Ophelia Young says Saturday brings sustained Sierra winds of 20 to 30 miles per hour, with gusts up to 45. Ridgetops could see gusts near 55. Sunday’s winds are weaker, but they shift out of the northwest, drying the air and keeping fire danger elevated. Combined with dry fuels, that’s the formula PG&E uses to decide when to shut power off to prevent its equipment from sparking a wildfire.
If your area could be affected, now is the time to prepare. Charge phones and backup batteries, locate flashlights, plan for refrigerated food and medications, and check on neighbors who might need help. The forecast is still developing, so check updates before the weekend arrives.
Are you prepared for a multi-day outage, or does it always catch you off guard? Let us know in the comments.
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Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
