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7h ago

PG&E Cuts Power to 1,000 Customers as Bay Area Faces Near-Critical Fire Weather

A fire weather watch for the Sacramento Valley warns of gusty winds with low humidity fueling grass fire potential until Sunday

Residents in parts of the Bay Area were advised that high winds and low humidity were creating near-critical conditions for wildfires. 
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Overview

  • The National Weather Service warns of a near-critical fire weather threat through Saturday in the interior East Bay and eastern Santa Clara Hills with gusts up to 40 mph against dry fuels.
  • Pacific Gas and Electric Co. began cutting power Thursday and has shut off electricity for nearly 1,000 customers in Alameda, Contra Costa and Santa Clara counties to reduce wildfire spark risk.
  • A fire weather watch is in effect for the Sacramento Valley from 8 a.m. Saturday to 11 a.m. Sunday following forecasts of northerly winds at 10-20 mph and gusts up to 40 mph.
  • Afternoon relative humidities are expected to fall to 15-25 percent in many inland areas, heightening the danger of quickly spreading grass and brush fires under gusty conditions.
  • Winds are forecast to ease and humidity to recover by Sunday, alleviating widespread fire weather concerns, though temperatures will remain 5-10 degrees below seasonal norms.