PG&E Power Outages Alert: Widespread Cuts Possible in 30 California Counties Due to Wildfire Risk

Wildfire Risk

Red Flag Warning Issued for Northern California Due to High Winds and Dry Conditions

A red flag warning has been issued for much of interior Northern California, starting Thursday night, as high winds and dry conditions elevate fire risks. The National Weather Service upgraded an earlier fire weather warning on Tuesday morning, forecasting strong north winds—known as Diablo winds—following a brief weather system expected to bring light rain on Wednesday.

Meteorologists predict that this system will pave the way for "critical fire weather conditions" lasting through Saturday. The Sacramento office of the National Weather Service noted that this typical fall weather pattern, called an "Inside Slider," will lead to gusty winds and low humidity levels throughout the week.

The Diablo winds, similar to the Santa Ana winds in Southern California, bring warmer, drier air from Nevada and Utah, which can quickly dry out vegetation and heighten fire risks. The absence of onshore winds from the Bay Area exacerbates these conditions. This situation echoes the devastating fires of 2017, when dry winds contributed to major wildfires in wine country and Southern California.

The red flag warning will take effect at 11 p.m. on Thursday, covering large areas of the Sacramento Valley, foothills, and parts of the upper San Joaquin Valley. Wind gusts on the Valley floor could exceed 45 mph, while sustained winds of 15 to 25 mph are anticipated. In the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, winds may reach 20 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 55 mph.

Humidity levels are expected to range from 10% to 25% on Friday and Saturday, with "moderate to poor" overnight moisture recovery. Forecasters warn that the combination of strong winds and low humidity can ignite new fires and exacerbate existing ones, causing them to spread rapidly.

Temperatures in the affected areas are expected to remain near normal, with highs in the low to mid-80s in the Valley and the 60s to 70s in the foothills. Fortunately, a cooling trend with onshore winds is predicted for Sunday, which should improve conditions for the following week.

Counties affected by the warning include:

• Amador (below 1,000 feet)

• Butte (including foothills above 1,000 feet)

• Colusa

• El Dorado (below 1,000 feet)

• Glenn

• Placer (below 1,000 feet)

• Sacramento

• San Joaquin

• Shasta (north of Redding through Shasta Lake)

• Solano

• Stanislaus

• Sutter

• Tehama (including foothills above 1,000 feet)

• Yolo

• Yuba

  
  

The warning will remain in effect until 5 p.m. Saturday, with the strongest winds anticipated on Friday.

PG&E Power Outages Alert: Widespread Cuts Possible in 30 California Counties Due to Wildfire Risk