Fire danger in California prompts warnings of possible power outages

A webcam operated by ALERTCalifornia, a public safety program at UC San Diego, captured images of the Line Fire burning in Southern California before the camera itself was swallowed by flames.

SACRAMENTO, California. – The Golden State's largest utility is warning thousands of residents that power shutoffs may be necessary to reduce the risk of wildfires as Diablo winds are expected to begin Thursday and possibly last into the early weekend.

PG&E has warned about 32,000 customers in Northern and Central California that shutdowns are expected starting Thursday, with the greatest threat coming on Friday.

The possible power outages are part of the Public Safety Power Shutoff Program (PSPS), which is intended to reduce the risk of electrical equipment starting fires.

The FOX Forecast Center says the combination of northerly and easterly winds and low relative humidity levels has caused local National Weather Service offices to issue fire weather warnings such as a fire weather watch and a fire weather warning for millions of Californians.

CALIFORNIA'S PARK FIRE IS NOW AMONG THE FIVE LARGEST IN THE STATE'S HISTORY AS HERO FIREFIGHTERS WORK TO OUT THE FLAME

“Behind today's system, dry northerly winds will develop along the western side of the Sacramento Valley tomorrow before more widespread offshore flow develops tomorrow evening through midday Saturday. The strongest winds are expected in the Sierra Nevada foothills, the western Sacramento Valley and the elevated Bay Area. “Winds will decrease in strength across portions of the central coast but will remain offshore through Sunday before calmer weather returns early next week “said PG&E in its latest statement.

The winds are commonly referred to as “Diablo winds” and can gust to 45-55 miles per hour or even more.

Diablo winds occur in both spring and fall, but are typically stronger in the fall months when vegetation is typically drier than in the summer season.

Further south, the phenomenon is known as the “Santa Ana winds,” which are also expected to affect parts of San Bernardino, Riverside, San Diego and Imperial counties by the end of the week.

This map illustrates the typical weather conditions that produce Santa Ana winds in California in the fall.

(FOX Weather)

CALIFORNIA COMPANY USING ANIMALS TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FOREST FIRE

A dry start to fall has left California in drought conditions, with about 14% of the state officially in drought and 75% considered abnormally dry.

Drying out vegetation increases the likelihood of wildfires because it essentially serves as fuel for the rapid spread of wildfires.

According to the FOX Forecast Center, humidity is expected to rise and winds to ease across much of Northern California during the second half of the weekend, but the threat of increased wildfire activity will likely remain for Southern California into next week.

The peak of Southern California's fire season typically lasts into November, due in part to the Santa Ana winds, while activity in the northern part of the state tends to decline a little earlier in the fall.

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