Update March 22, 2023 at 10:45 a.m.
PG&E crews are out in force conducting damage assessments from this week’s storm, which continues to linger with rain over parts of PG&E’s service area. Winds and soil instability toppled trees, caused severe erosion, and damage to electric equipment. Initial assessments as of this morning found damage to 144 poles, 73 transformers, and over 430 miles of conductor wire.
UPDATE: March 21, 9:30 p.m.
According to PG&E meteorologists, the system exceeded all expectations as the center of the low-pressure system tracked right through the Bay Area instead of glancing the coast as weather models predicted; this resulted in very strong wind gusts throughout the Bay Area.
Some maximum wind gusts included 89 mph in Santa Clara County, 81 mph in Alameda County, 77 mph in San Francisco and 75 mph in Contra Costa and Monterey counties. In addition, nearly 250 weather stations recorded peak wind gusts of 50 mph or higher.
Despite the weather, crews are making progress with restorations. Currently, 177,000 customers are without power.
UPDATE: March 21, 6:45 p.m.
PG&E crews are working safely and as quickly as possible to assess equipment damaged by the storm. They follow the five-step restoration process: Make safe, gain access, patrol, access/repair, notify.
As of 5:30 this evening, initial assessments found 42 damaged poles and 23 damaged transformers. That number is expected to increase as more assessments are conducted.
Currently, 244,000 customers are without power.
UPDATE: March 21, 2:30 p.m.
As the intense winter storm made landfall and moves across PG&E’s service area, it is delivering strong winds and heavy rains, which have damaged trees and electric infrastructure. In some parts of the Bay Area, wind gusts were recorded reaching more than 80 mph.
Currently 147,000 customers are without power due to impacts from the storm.
For customers in need of emergency support resources, PG&E is partnering with the 211 Network, which can provide information on community services in your area. Customers can call 211 or search online at Your Local 211 | United Way 211. All queries are confidential.
The American Red Cross has opened shelters throughout California to provide emergency support including a safe place to sleep, food and water, and some first aid. A full list of services and locations can be found at: American Red Cross Shelter Information.
UPDATE: March 21, 10:30 a.m.
A strong weather system is currently moving into PG&E’s service area. More than 5,727 personnel are mobilized and in position to respond to outages. Currently, 16,300 customers are without power due to the storm, most of whom are located in the Bay Area (Peninsula) and Central Coast regions.
PG&E meteorologists say that a stronger weather system arrives Tuesday (March 21) and will linger into Wednesday resulting in breezy to locally gusty winds, widespread rain, isolated thunderstorms and heavy mountain snow. Southerly winds will develop along the Central Coast, South Bay and Peninsula tomorrow morning and spread inland across the central and southern interior during the day with gusts generally in the 30-40 mph range across lower elevations, while stronger winds are possible over elevated terrain. Elsewhere, gusts 25-35 mph are possible, while remaining generally below 25 mph in the far North.
Moderate to locally heavy precipitation is expected for most of the territory with light to locally moderate rain in Humboldt and the rain shadowed areas of the San Joaquin and northern Sacramento Valley. Rainfall amounts could reach one to two or more along the Central Coast and southern Sierra foothills, and a half inch to an inch-and-a-half across the Bay Area.
PG&E is prepared for this storm. PG&E has a plan and will implement that plan. In advance of the latest storm, PG&E vegetation management crews are out working to keep trees away from powerlines during the forecasted wet and windy weather to reduce the risk of outages caused by downed trees and other vegetation. The adverse weather can result in trees, limbs and other debris falling into powerlines, damaging equipment, and interrupting electric service.
Assume all down wires are energized and extremely dangerous. Don’t touch or try to move the power line, keep children and animals away. Report downed lines to 911 and PG&E at 1-800-743-5002. What to do if you see a downed power line (pge.com)
Last week’s storm was the 13th major storm event in our service area in the past 75 days. That storm was the most significant, in terms of customer impact, in the Bay Area since 1995.
The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for the San Joaquin River near Vernalis in San Joaquin County and provided the following cautions:
Motorists should not attempt to drive around barricades or drive cars through flooded areas.
Turn around, don`t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles.
Caution is urged when walking near riverbanks.
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