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3mo ago

Power Shutoffs Continue as California Faces Near-Critical Fire Weather

Utility power shutoffs aim to prevent sparks during a stretch of gusty winds and low humidity that has prompted fire weather advisories statewide.

In an aerial view, surviving trees and new greenery can be seen following recent rains amid homes destroyed in the Eaton Fire on March 11, 2025, in Altadena, California. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
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

  • A near-critical fire weather threat persists in the interior East Bay and eastern Santa Clara Hills with gusts of 20–35 mph and afternoon humidity levels falling to 15–25 percent.
  • Pacific Gas and Electric Co. and Southern California Edison have cut power to thousands of customers, including nearly 1,000 in the Bay Area, to lower the risk of equipment-spark ignitions.
  • Recent vegetation fires in Alameda and Santa Clara counties and a fast-moving brush fire in Contra Costa that burned over 350 acres highlight the heightened flammability of dry fuels.
  • Fire weather watches are in place for the Sacramento Valley from Saturday morning through Sunday, while red flag warnings cover parts of California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona and Colorado.
  • UC Davis and other climate scientists say early-season dry and hot patterns like this may become more frequent, potentially extending California’s fire season in the years ahead.