Red Flag Warning for western Sierra and Nor Cal valley, PG&E begins safety shut-off

The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for portions of interior Northern California up into the foothills to elevations under 5000 feet.

At approximately 5:00 p.m. on Monday, September 23, PG&E began turning off power for safety to about 24,000 customers in portions of Butte, Nevada and Yuba Counties. By approximately 8:00 p.m., PG&E had completed the task of turning off power for public safety to about 24, 000 customers in the Sierra foothills. Power will remain off until weather conditions improve and it is safe to restore service.

Customers in those three counties as well as in El Dorado County, Lake County, Sutter County, Napa County, Placer County and Sonoma County should remain on standby for a possible weather event Tuesday, September 24.

They are calling for gusty north to east winds that will continue across portions of interior Northern California today into Wednesday. Combined with warming temperatures and lowering humidity, this is resulting in critical fire weather conditions. The warning is in place until 11:00 a.m. Wednesday.

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire weather zones 220, 221, 266, and 267. Also, fire weather zones 268 and 269 for elevations below 5000 feet.

* WIND...Northeast to east wind 10 to 30 mph with local gusts up to 40 TO 50 mph.

* HUMIDITY...Poor overnight recoveries of 30 to 40 percent, locally lower, with widespread daytime minimum humidities mostly in the teens.

* HIGHEST THREAT...Night and morning hours, especially over ridges and through favorably oriented canyons, when winds will be the strongest.

* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.